Spartans Drop Conference Game to Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team (9-4, 3-2 SSC) lost its second consecutive game, this time to Eckerd College (10-5, 3-2 SSC), 80-72 in St. Petersburg on Wednesday night.

Tampa's Johnathan Ball recorded the game's first basket just over two minutes into the first half, helping to launch the Spartans to an early 9-5 lead. The Tritons failed to be intimidated as they scored nine of the game's next 11 points to take a 14-11 lead with 9:42 remaining in the first half. After a brief run by Tampa, Eckerd continued to dictate the flow of the game, closing out the half on a 20-17 run to take a 34-28 lead into the break.

The Spartans opened the second half outscoring the Tritons 9-7 to cut the lead to 39-37 with just under 17 minutes to play in the game. Tampa battled over the next four minutes to tie the game at 45, before the Tritons went on a four minute, 15-4 run to take a 60-49 lead with 9:48 to play.

Eckerd kept Tampa at arm's length over the next seven minutes until Chris King hit his only three-pointer of the game with 2:14 to go, closing the gap to 71-68. It was not to be, however, as the Tritons pulled away over the final two minutes to take down the Spartans 80-72.

Ball led the Spartans with 20 points in the game to go with six rebounds. Jeremy Black, Rashad Callaway, and King joined Ball in double figures with 19, 16, and 11 points, respectively. King led Tampa with eight rebounds, while Callaway had a team-high three assists.

Tampa returns to the floor on Saturday when it plays host to Barry University in the second game of a men's-women's doubleheader. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 pm.