Spartans Lose in Season Opener Thriller

Huntsville, Ala. – The University of Tampa Spartans Men's Basketball team opened the 2022-2023 season with a devastating loss to the Montevallo Falcons.

Final: Montevallo Falcons 77, Tampa Spartans 74

Records: Tampa (0-1), Montevallo (1-0)

Location: Spragins || Huntsville, Ala.

All-Time Series: Tampa and Montevallo have only met four times before; the series is tied at 2-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF:

The Spartans and Falcons were playing back-and-forth basketball early in the first half with 6 lead changes and 4 tied scores. The Spartans suddenly broke out to a comfortable lead with consecutive buckets from Jonathan Bryant II and Tyson Leitao. The Spartans jumped out to a 32-21 lead with 3:19 left in the first. The Spartans kept their big lead going into half up by 10. Leitao leads all scorers with 8 points in the first half. || Score: 34-24 Tampa

SECOND HALF

The Falcons cut the scoring to 5 points within the first 5 minutes of the second half. However, the Spartans found a way to extend their lead back to 9 points at the 14:03 mark left in the second half. After a few back-and-forth shots hitting for both the Falcons and the Spartans, the Spartans extended their lead to 12 points will 11 minutes left with scoring from Brown and Bryant II. The Falcons would not go away by going on a 7-0 run in two minutes to cut the lead to only 7 points with 9 minutes left. The Spartans kept their lead and were up 70-60 with only four minutes left. The Falcons pulled all the way back and ended up taking the lead with 3 seconds left to hold onto a 77-74 win. || Score: 77-74 Montavello

INSIDE THE STATS

• Five Spartans scored in double digits tonight: Sophomore Tyson Leitao (14), Senior Jonathan Bryant II (14), Junior Jacob Harris (12), Sophomore De'Andre Harvey (11), and Senior Mykah Brown (10).
• The Spartans lead 41-29 in total rebounds. 

BEYOND THE BOX

• Jacob Harris recorded 12 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist.
• Tyson Leitao and Jonathan Bryant II both recorded 14 points, 7 rebounds, and an assist.
•  De'Andre Harvey recorded 11 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist.

UP NEXT: The Spartans return to action tomorrow as they take on Alabama-Huntsville at 5 PM.

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