Williams Reaches 1000 Career Points, Spartans Dominate Eckerd

Tampa, Fla – The University of Tampa Men's Basketball team was back at the Bob this evening to take on cross-bay Sunshine State Conference foe, Eckerd College. The Spartans and Tritons were only separated by one game in the SSC standings coming into that rematch making this a key game down the stretch for Tampa. In what started as a tight defensive matchup, Tampa was able to run away with this one in the end. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Tampa 85, Eckerd 69

Records: Tampa 15-9 (7-9 SSC), Eckerd 10-14 (5-11 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Center l Tampa, Fla.

All-time series: This was the 100th meeting between these two programs. With the win, Tampa extends the all-time series lead to 62-38. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF: In a must win game for the Spartans, they started this game in near perfect fashion. They opened with tough, gritty defense and held Eckerd to just three points in the first three minutes. In that time they forced ugly shots and turnovers while Trey Lane took the lead 4-3 with a smooth finish at the rim. The Spartans continued to hammer the defensive side of the court, only allowing four more points to Eckerd to take a 10-7 lead with 15 minutes left in the first half. Amarion Nimmers and Ryan Blount both drilled three pointers to give Tampa this lead before Bryan Williams added a bucket to give Tampa their first multi-possession lead in the game at 12-7. Both teams went cold as the game crossed the 15 minute mark due to unlucky rolls and tight defense from each squad. This contest did not see another point for over three minutes until Kaden Froebe drove his defender for the easy lay and put the Spartans up 14-7 with 11:44 to play. Eckerd finally got back on the board and used a three pointer to spark a 7-1 run and pull the scoreline to 15-14. B.J. Schaeffer put an end to this Triton run with a tough finish at the rim through contact and the Spartans were back up three with under ten minutes to play. Ryan Blount added a smooth move and a jumper before Ian Higdon came up with a monster block on an Eckerd layup attempt. Tyson Leitao finished back to back takes around the rim as the half crossed into the final seven minutes but Eckerd had found their rhythm on offense, only trailing by one at 23-22. Amarion Nimmers responded with a physical drive to the hoop for a layup and a Spartans three point lead. As the game crossed into the final four minutes, both defenses stepped up big time. After the Nimmers layup, there were only 4 total points scored until Eckerd was fouled at the 3:11 mark. Both teams traded free throws but Eckerd hit a jumper to take the lead 29-28 with under two to play. Eckerd continued to make plays on the offensive end despite the continued tough defense from the Spartans and extended the lead out to 33-28. Kaden Froebe gave the Spartans some life at the end of the half with a buzzer beating three from deep on the wing to pull the Spartans within two points at the break. 

Score: Tampa 31, Eckerd 33

SECOND HALF: After a first half dominated by the defenses, both sides knew whoever was able to set the offensive pace in the second half, had the best chance of coming away with a win. The Spartans were the first team to strike early, and it paid off big time. Bryan Williams got the half started with a left handed lay through contact before Kaden Froebe picked off an Eckerd pass and went coast to coast for a big time slam. Froebe and Williams both picked up another basket before Eckerd finally scored a second half bucket. Williams answered that bucket with a huge three to put the Spartans up 44-36 before the 17 minute mark of the second half. This 13-3 run to open the half set the tone for the rest of the game as the Spartans continued to get out and run offensively. Tyson Leitao added a bucket at the rim, but Kaden Froebe was taking over this game. With over 13 minutes left to play, Froebe had already recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals to help the Spartans lead 52-41. Eckerd was not going to go away quietly, mounting a comeback at the midway point of the second half. They used a multiple minute field goal drought of the Spartans to go from down double digits to just four. With the scoreline 52-48, both teams traded baskets until Trey Lane and De'Andre Harvey hit back to back threes to give Tampa a nine point lead. Tyson Leitao and Bryan Williams added layups to the offensive run and the Spartans were back up double digits at 63-50.   With under seven minutes to play, Trey Lane hit what might have been the biggest three pointer of the game to put the Spartans up 69-55. This was until Kaden Froebe and Ryan Blount went back to back from deep with under four minutes to play to really put the game away. The final few minutes of the game showcased more elite Tampa defense and shot making, but also a milestone. Bryan Williams hit a jumper for his 14th and 15th points of the game late in the second half to break the 1000 point milestone in his career at the University of Tampa. The Spartans took this momentum and closed out the game with high energy and effort, reaching a lead of 20+ points before closing out a 16 point win. 

FINAL: Tampa 85, Eckerd 69

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Kaden Froebe goes for 17 points but keeps racking up steals this season with 3 tonight 

• Bryan Williams drops 17 points and 8 rebounds while surpassing 1000 point for his career (Fun Fact - Father Bryan Williams also scored over 1000 points in his UTampa career)

• With six rebounds tonight, Tyson Leitao has snagged over 900 total rebounds in his Tampa career

UP NEXT: The Spartans will be back at the Bob Martinez Center for Senior Day this coming Saturday. Senior Day will also coincide with Youth Day at the Bob Martinez center on February 15th. This jam packed day of community fun and celebration for the basketball seniors will start at 2:00pm with the Tampa Women's Basketball team followed by the Men's game at 4:00pm. Be sure to arrive early to show your support for the graduating players as they take on Embry-Riddle. 

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