Williams 27 Points, Leitao 19 Rebound Double-Double Elevate Tampa Over Barry

Miami Shores, Fla – The University of Tampa Men's Basketball team traveled down south tonight for a key matchup in Sunshine State Conference play. The Spartans took on Barry University in a battle of two teams who sit tied in the middle of the SSC standings. After a 2-0 week that included a win over nationally ranked Palm Beach Atlantic and Senior Bryan Williams earning Player of the Week, the Spartans were looking to continue building in the right direction. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Tampa 101, Barry 96

Records: Tampa 13-5 (5-5 SSC), Barry 8-10 (4-6)

Location: Health and Sports Center l Miami Shores, Fla

All-time series: This was the 82nd meeting all-time between these two programs. With the win tonight, Tampa extends the series lead to 47-35. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF: To get this contest going, the Spartans played perfect defense after Barry won the tip and were rewarded with a B.J. Shaeffer left handed jelly lay. Tampa kept the strong defense up by not allowing a point for the first four minutes of play. In this time, Kaden Froebe hit a tough lay and reigning SSC Player of the Week Bryan Williams hit a three. Tampa was able to get out to an 8-0 lead before Barry finally got on the board. The Buccaneers would go on a small run while Tampa went cold and by the 14 minute mark of the first half, the game was tied at eight. With the game tied at eight, Amarion Nimmers decided to end the drought himself. He hit a huge three to re-give Tampa the lead and followed that up with a steal and dunk on the next possession. Ian Higdon added to the momentum Tampa was building by snagging an offensive rebound and going back up with it for a three point play. Barry did hit a few more shots but the Spartans were able to build a 23-18 lead by the ten minute mark. The Spartans got caught in transition a few times and Barry was able to get on another small run to tie the game up at 26 with under eight minutes to go. The Buccaneers took their first lead of the game after an open jumper but Kaden Froebe answered with a three ball to give Tampa a 30-28 lead. However, just as the Spartans were starting to rebuild their momentum, Barry found themselves open for back to back dunks that not only gave them a 36-33 lead, but sent the crowd into a frenzy. Barry followed this up by forcing two straight turnovers and hitting back to back threes to give them a double-digit lead. With three minutes to go in half, The Spartans were able to get some stops and cut into the Barry lead with a combination of Amarion Nimmers, Ryan Blount, and Tyson Leitao hitting shots. However, Barry ended the half by hitting some more shots and the Spartans found themselves down double-digits.   

Score: Tampa 42, Barry 53

SECOND HALF: To start the second half, Barry came out and banged a quick three to get the scoring going. The Spartans answered with a Kaden Froebe layup and a Bryan Williams three to cut the lead back to single digits. Tyson Leitao was also able to find his way to the line multiple times early in the half in order to help the Spartans get back in this contest. With 15 minutes left in the half, the Tampa defense was able to force a shot clock violation and Bryan Williams started to heat up. Williams drilled back to back threes from deep to cut the six. He would then pass to assist on a Trey Lane three pointer to make the scoreline 64-61 Barry. After Tampa had cut the lead to just three, the Buccaneers were able to settle the game down, hit a three, and retake a multi-possession lead. Once again, Tyson Leitao on back to back possessions was able to get to the line and sink free throws to cut the Barry lead to just five with a little over 11 minutes on the clock. Both teams would trade baskets over the next few minutes before Bryan Williams got hot once again. Williams hit a pair of free throws before knocking down another huge three to give Tampa their first lead since the first half. With the score 76-73 Tampa, Barry answered with a three and jumper to retake the lead 81-76 with six minutes left. Amarion Nimmers and Tyson Leitao both hit huge jumpers but the Tampa defense was unable to get stops. Barry led 86-81 with six minutes on the clock but after Kaden Froebe drilled three free throws, the Spartans had cut the lead back to two points. Both teams traded jumpers but then Trey Lane got fouled shooting a three and calmly made his free throws to make the scoreline 88-87 Barry. After a massive steal from Leitao, Kaden Froebe found his way back to the charity stripe and tied the game at 88. As the clock ticked past the 3 minute mark, Trey Lane drilled a long range three to give the Spartans the lead. After a turnover, Bryan Williams drove the lane to give the Spartans a five point lead before Trey Lane on the next possession hit a floater to put Tampa up 97-88. In the span of just a few minutes the Spartans went on a 13-0 run to retake the lead and pull away in this contest. Barry would fight back in the last minute and hit three straight three pointers to cut the Spartan lead to just three points at 99-96. Bryan Williams iced the game with a pair of last second free throws and Tampa survived the late push. 

FINAL: Tampa 101, Barry 96

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Bryan Williams dropped 27 points to go along with 5 steals and 4 dimes 

• Tyson Leitao records his ninth double-double of the year with 19 points and 19 rebounds

• Five Spartans recorded 10+ points 

• Spartans set team record with 45 3pt field goals attempted 

UP NEXT: The Spartans will come back home for their first game since the spring semester officially started. Tampa Men's Basketball will be back in action at the Bob Martinez Center on Saturday, January 25th. Students can come take a break from the sun at the Gasparilla Parade when the Spartans take on St. Leo at 4:00pm. 

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