Leitao And Blount Combine For 58 In Thrilling Overtime Loss

Lakeland, Fla – The University of Tampa Men's Basketball teams traveled down I4 this evening for a Sunshine State Conference rivalry game with nationally ranked Florida Southern. This was the second meeting between these two squads this season with Florida Southern escaping that first matchup with a last second winner. The Spartans were hungry to come into this game and prove they belong with the top teams not just in the SSC, but in the country. In what ended up being the highest scoring game ever in these programs storied history, this contest started fast and never slowed down. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Tampa 125, #19 Florida Southern 129

Records: Tampa 14-6 (6-6 SSC), #19 Florida Southern 18-4 (9-3 SSC)

Location: George W. Jenkins Field House l Lakeland, Fla

All-time series: These two teams have been playing basketball against each other since the 1930's. This was the 126 all-time meeting and with the win Florida Southern improves the lead to 83-43.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF: To get this contest started, Tampa forced back to back turnovers and turned those into Bryan Williams points. Both teams were out and running from the get-go but Tampa was able to get buckets to fall early. Tampa took an early 7-4 lead and continued to come up with steals throughout the first ten minutes of action but were unable to come up with major points. Tampa was the first team to double digit points in this rivalry game by taking a 10-6 lead before Ryan Blount hit his first three of the night to get the Spartans to 13-6. The Mocs answered with a few made shots but by the 14 minute mark, Spartans led 21-14. Both teams continued to trade baskets at an astonishing fast pace including a Trey Lane deep three to push the Tampa lead out to 32-23. Kaden Froebe hit a pair of free throws to give the Spartans their first double digit lead of the game with just under ten minutes to go in the first half. Neither team could miss a shot for multiple minutes and by the seven minute mark the Spartans led 43-35. The Mocs were able to get a few stops in a row and cut the lead to just five but the Spartans were able to rally. Tampa hit two big shots and after BJ Sheaffer hit some free throws, Tampa was back up by ten at 49-39. Kaden Froebe added insult to injury with a corner three and a jumper to extend the lead to 15 points. BJ Sheaffer and Tyson Leitao added easy points to this Tampa run to give the Spartans a 58-41 lead at the two minute mark. In the final few minutes Trey Lane finished a sick reverse layup and Ryan Blount hit a three to give Tampa a huge lead going into the half. 

Score: Tampa 63, #19 Florida Southern 47

SECOND HALF: With a 16 point lead on a top 20 team in the nation, the Spartans knew it was not going to be easy to leave Lakeland with a win. Bryan Williams got the final 20 minutes started with a smooth jumper. Amarion Nimmers followed this jumper with a nice layup of his own to try and close this one out early. However, the Mocs went on their first big run of the game, hitting four straight shots and some free throws to make a 18 point lead to just 10. Tampa was unable to find an answer and by the 14 minute mark, the Spartans lead was cut all the way to a single possession at 72-69. Both teams again traded baskets with Tampa not giving up the lead and a Ryan Blount jumper pushed the lead back out to five. The Mocs kept coming and at the ten minute mark, it was just a 81-78 lead. Bryan Williams came up big for the Spartans by drilling free throws and finding Tyson Leitao for back to back easy buckets including a dunk to re-extend the lead back to double digits. Yet again, Florida Southern did not go away and drilled three straight buckets to bring the Tampa lead to just five. With the score 89-84 and eight minutes remaining, Tampa went on a huge run. The Spartans outscored the Mocs 9-3 over the course of three minutes to truly retake control of this intense rivalry game. Florida Southern did answer but they could not stop fouling and Tampa made them pay. A combination of free throws from Tyson Leitao and Kaden Froebe mixed with Bryan Williams and trey lane layups helped the Spartans hit 100 points and take a 106-00 lead into the final three and half minutes to go. Both teams traded a basket before Tyson Leitao put his body on the line and drew a huge momentum swinging charge to give Tampa possession with 2:17 on the clock up 108-102. Tyson would finish this full possession with a monster dunk to put the Spartans up eight. Florida Southern answered with six straight points to make the scoreline 110-108 in favor of Tampa with 1:01 remaining. Trey Lane put an end to the run with a three to put Tampa up five but the Mocs came right back with a three of their own to make it 113-111 with 30 seconds left. Amarion Nimmers was fouled and sent to the line and deposited a free three, putting the Spartans up by 3 with 22 seconds in the game. Florida Southern elected for an easy layup and quickly fouled Tyson Leitao with the score 114-113 with 14 seconds left. Tyson was able to make one free throw and the Spartans led by two with 12 seconds left. After a missed three, The mocs were able to get a foul on the rebound. With the score 115-113, the Mocs hit both free three to tie the game up and force overtime. 

END REGULATION: Tampa 115, #19 Florida Southern 115

OVERTIME: To begin the extra period, Florida Southern took thier first lead since the first half with a pair of free throws. After a Tampa miss, the Mocs hit a transition layup to take a 119-115 lead with four minutes left in overtime. Tyson Leitao added a free throw to cut the lead to one possession but the Spartans were unable to get a stop and the Mocs led by 5. Ryan Blount stepped up big time with an offensive board and finish at the rim to pull the scoreline to 121-118 Mocs. Tampa finally was able to get a stop and Leitao again was able to hit free throws. In a one point game, Florida Southern was again able to draw a foul but only made one free throw to make it 122-120. Both teams traded missed three's, giving Tampa with a chance to tie or take the lead with 1:47 on the clock. They would do just that with a Ryan Blount layup to tie the contest at 122. The Mocs hit free throws to not just take the lead but again force Tampa to answer with a bucket. Bryan Williams picked up the call and finished a tough layup through contact to tie the game with a minute left. However, Florida Southern hit the biggest shot of the game with a deep three to take a 127-124 lead. With under 20 seconds left, Florida Southern chose to foul Bryan Williams in order to not give Tampa a chance at a three and the tie. Williams hit the first shot before trying to miss on purpose but Tampa was unable to get the rebound and Florida Southern escaped with close win. 

FINAL: Tampa 125, #19 Florida Southern 129

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tyson Leitao reaches 1000 points for his career in tonight's contest while dropping 29 point and 13 rebound double-double

• Ryan Blount set new career high with 29 points 

• Despite the loss, 125 total points is the third most points in a conference game in program history

• Three Spartans recorded 20+ points (Blount - 29, Leitao - 29, WIlliams - 21)

UP NEXT: The Spartans will have a few days to regroup before heading back out on the road to face another top team in the SSC. The Spartans will travel to Lynn University on Saturday, February 1st with tip-off scheduled for 4:00pm.  

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