Spartans Come Up Short In Overtime Thriller

Daytona Beach, Fla – The University of Tampa Men's Basketball team traveled across the state this evening for another Sunshine State Conference matchup. The Spartans faced off against the Eagles of Embry-Riddle with a chance to move up the SSC leaderboard. Entering this contest without two starters due to injuries, Tampa knew they were heading into an uphill battle. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Tampa 89, Embry-Riddle 96

Records: Tampa 10-5 (2-5 SSC), Embry-Riddle 11-4 (5-2 SSC)

Location: ICI Center I Daytona Beach, Fla

All-time series: This was the 20th meeting all-time between these two programs. With the loss, Embry-Riddle leads the series 11-9. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF: Tonight's contest was an electric matchup in which the pace of play never slowed down. After Embry-Riddle won the tip, the Spartans played lights out defense and did not allow a made field goal for the first four minutes of the game. They came away with multiple steals and turned those into points on the other end. Tyson Leitao and Cole Gingeleski got the scoring going down low before Amarion Nimmers and Kaden Froebe each hit a three to give Tampa a ten point lead by the 15 minute mark. The Eagles would finally get on the board and both teams traded baskets until a Zach Johnson three put the Spartans back up double digits at 17-7. Both sides would go back to trading stops and baskets until Embry-Riddle was able to catch fire. With the game crossing the halfway mark of the first half, the Eagles held the Spartans scoreless for over three minutes and used an 8-0 run to close the scoreline to 22-20, Spartans. With the lead cut to just two, Tampa was in need of a spark. After grabbing a board, Amarion Nimmers put the ball on the floor and used a 360 spin move to evade two defenders and finish at the rim. He followed this up by getting to line for two and helped the Spartans get stops in bunches. Nimmers spark, coupled with great team defense helped the Spartans extend the lead back to double digits. With under three minutes to go, Embry-Riddle pulled the game back into a single digit contest but more excellent play from Amarion Nimmers killed any chance of a momentum switch. The final minutes of the half went without a major basket but Embry-Riddle would get a last second bucket to only give the Spartans a six point first half lead. 

Score: Tampa 40, Embry-Riddle 34

SECOND HALF: To start the second half, a banged up Spartan squad picked up right where they left off. After getting a stop on the Eagles opening possession, Kaden Froebe hit a three on the wing to open the second half scoring. Embry-Riddle answered with a three of their own and both teams went back and forth until the first big run of the second half. At the 14 minute mark, The Eagles had an offensive explosion, dropping over 15 points in the next minutes to bring themselves fully back into this contest. Tampa would answer almost every basket but Embry-Riddle would take their first lead of the game at the ten minute mark. Despite the defensive struggles, the Spartans were still making plays at the basket. Tyson Leitao hit a big three, Cole Gingeleski had a huge transition dunk, and a tough Amarion Nimmers three point play at the basket kept them in it. With the score tied at 60, BJ Schaeffer finished back to back layups through contact to give the Spartans another multi-possession lead. Both teams would continue to make plays at both ends and by the five minute mark of the second, the Spartans held a 71-66 lead. A Ryan Blount three off an excellent set play extended the lead back out to double digits but the Eagles just kept clawing their way back. With under a minute to go, Tyson Leitao hit a huge floater to put the Spartans up 81-76. Embry-Riddle responded once more, hitting a huge three to pull the game back to a one possession lead for Tampa. Leitao made a free throw but another Eagle bucket would make it 82-81 with under 30 seconds to go. A costly foul on Tampa would put the Eagles on the line with 12.4 to go and they would tie the game up at 82. Unable to get off a last shot, the Spartans found themselves in their second overtime game of the year. 

End Regulation: Tampa 82, Embry-Riddle 82

OVERTIME: The Overtime period did not start in favor of Tampa. With a short bench and players fighting through cramps, Embry-Riddle scored the first two baskets of the extra period. Tampa eventually got on the board but found themselves down 88-84 with only two minutes left. A Kaden Froebe steal helped the Spartans get a stop but without their top playmakers, were unable to sustain any shot making. Tyson Leitao found his way to the line with just over a minute to go and calmly put Tampa back in a one possession game. However, the Eagles would also get to the charity stripe and retake a two possession lead at 90-86. Amarion Nimmers finished yet another lay through contact with under a minute to make it a one score game once more. Unfortunately, the Eagles hit a dagger three with 21.6 seconds left to put the game out of reach. The Spartans got one last look at some points but could not get it to fall, leaving Embry-Riddle to escape with the win. 

FINAL: Tampa 89, Embry-Riddle 96

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Amarion Nimmers and Tyson Leitao both dropped 22 points 

• Tampa defense combined for 8 steals (Froebe with 3) 

• 9 different Spartans recorded a made field goal

UP NEXT: The Spartans will not have much time to get healthy as they will come back home for another SSC contest at the Bob Martinez Center in just four days. Tampa will play host to Florida Tech on Wednesday, January 15th at 7:30pm. 

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