Spartans Fall in Matchup at Embry-Riddle

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – On Wednesday evening, the University of Tampa Spartans were defeated in a close matchup between Sunshine State Conference opponent Embry-Riddle University Eagles.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final Score: Embry-Riddle University Eagles 82,  University of Tampa Spartans 72

Records: Tampa 4-3 (1-2 SSC), Embry-Riddle 10-1 (3-0 SSC)

Location: ICI Center | Daytona Beach, Fla.

All-Time Series: This will now be the 15th meeting between the two teams, Tampa still leads the series 8-7 

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st HALF

Tampa and Embry-Riddle would open up the half going back and forth, no team could establish a lead until Embry-Riddle would go on an 11-0 run with five minutes left in the half to make it 24-15, a Martin Lakovic layup would end that run for the Eagles. The Spartans would like to have the first half back after their shooting performance, with a lacking 26.7 shooting percentage from the field. Tampa would get outscored off the bench 17-4 with all four bench points coming from Jonathan Bryant II, as Bryant's jumper would be the last action for the Spartans in the last minute of the first half. Score: 39-21 Embry-Riddle

2nd HALF

The Spartans would open up the scoring with a pair of Derrick Felder free throws to begin the second half. The Spartans would look for hope in the second half and look for a comeback to spark,  Max Jones would come to life early in the second half as he would score nine of Tampa's 19 points before the 10-minute mark as Jones would finish the game with 21 points to his name. Although the shooting performance would get better in the second half with a 54.5 shooting percentage from behind the arc. The Eagles would still pull away from the Spartans, the Eagles would break the Spartans full-court press and tire out the comeback that the Spartans would look to start. Score: 82-72 Embry-Riddle

INSIDE THE STATS

• Jones would lead the Spartans in scoring with 21.

• Tyson Leitao would have a game-high in rebounds with 11.

• Three Spartans would reach double-digit scoring, Jones (21), De'Andre Harvey (13) and Mykah Brown (11).

BEYOND THE BOX

• Despite the loss, Tampa still leads the series against Embry-Riddle 8-7.

• This now ends the Spartans three-game win streak

NEXT UP: Tampa will kick off the Tampa Classic at home against Tiffin University next Friday at 6:00 PM on December 17.

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