Strong Second Half Lifts Tampa Over Claflin
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
34 | 28 | 62 |
|
|
31 | 34 | 65 |
Team Stats
Claflin
| Game Statistics | Claflin | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (24-57) | (17-53) |
| Field Goal % | 42.1% | 32.1% |
| Rebounds | 37 | 31 |
| Assists | 14 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 13 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 12 | 18 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 7 | 9 |
| Pts in the Paint | 30 | 20 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 4 | 6 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 15 |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team participated in the Eckerd College Tournament on Friday night, as they face Claflin University. The game came down to the wire, as the Panthers missed the final shot and the Spartans claimed the 65-62 victory. The win moves UT to 2-3 and drops CU to 2-2 for the season.
Pat Bacon led Tampa again as the freshman racked up 26 points and six rebounds. Bacon has now scored at least 20 points in four consecutive games. Bacon scored half of his points from the free-throw line, as the guard hit 13 from the charity stripe. Austin Rettig also contributed with 17 points and seven rebounds.
The first half of play was controlled by Claflin, as the Panthers did not trail once in the half. Although they maintained the lead throughout the first 20 minutes of play, CU went into the half with just a three-point lead at 34-31.
Bacon had 11 points at the half, while Matt Johnson had five first half points.
At the 16:51 mark of the second half, Rettig and Jaylen Taylor converted on back to back dunks to give Tampa a four point lead, their first of the game. With 4:50 left in the game, Claflin tied the game at 54, but the Spartans would maintain their lead en route to the 65-62 victory. Patrell Rogers had the final shot for the Panthers but failed to send the game into overtime.
UT held a big advantage from the charity stripe as they made 27 free-throws and CU only converted on nine from the charity stripe.
The Spartans will be back in action again tomorrow at 5:30 as they take on Puerto Rico-Bayamon in the final day of the Eckerd Tournament.
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