Poor Shooting Fails to Deter Spartans

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team won its fifth straight game with a 60-47 victory over Nova Southeastern University. The Spartans improve to 9-2 on the year and 2-0 in Sunshine State Conference action as Nova falls to 6-6 and 1-1 in league play.

The contest stayed close for the majority of the first half until UT opened up a 10 point lead with 1:06 remaining in the first half. A 14 point halftime lead was stretched to 19 with just over 17 minutes remaining in the final half. Tampa maintained the advantage, using its reserves for the final five minutes of the game.

The Spartans, who shot just 35.1 percent from the field, held Nova to a 28.3 clip. UT also shot 31 percent from three-point range and just 57.9 percent from the free throw line. The Spartans did outrebound the Sharks 45-40.

Chris King led a group of four Tampa players in double figures with 12. Jeremy Black, Chris Evans and Johnathan Ball each chipped in 10. Black also had a team-high 14 rebounds as Evans had 12. Evans also led UT with three blocked shots.

Rashad Callaway led Tampa with four assists while King, Evans and Ball each had two steals.

Tampa returns to action on Wednesday as it hosts Saint Leo in an SSC meeting at 7:30 p.m.