Spartans Survive Nova Southeastern In Overtime Contest

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - After suffering its first loss of the 2010-11 season, the No. 12 University of Tampa (17-1, 6-1 SSC) men's basketball team survived a scare at the hands of Nova Southeastern University (11-6, 4-3 SSC) on Saturday at the Taft Center. The Spartans prevailed with an 86-78 overtime victory.

The battle between Sunshine State Conference opponents was an evenly played contest that featured 10 lead changes and 11 ties throughout the 45 minutes of play. Neither team led by more than nine in the game.

Both teams led by as many as seven points in the first half as Tampa took a 33-32 advantage to the break. A pair of Fred Woods free throws gave UT the one-point lead as the final 1:42 of the half was scoreless.

In the second half, the game was within four points until UT went on a 7-0 run to claim a 65-57 lead with 6:03 remaining in regulation. An 11-3 Nova run then knotted the score at 68-68 with 2:41 showing on the clock.

The Sharks then claimed a 70-69 lead with 1:02 to play, which was short-lived as Tampa's Ashton Graham proceeded to drain a 3-pointer with 44-seconds remaining to give UT a 72-70 lead. NSU responded with a game-tying jumper by John Brooks with 24-seconds to go, sending the contest to an extra period after a pair of missed shots by the Spartans.

Tampa controlled overtime from the start, with Osby Kelly hitting a 3-pointer on the first possession. The Spartans scored at least one point in all seven of its overtime possessions as Kelly paved the way with the first five points of the extra frame.

A balanced offensive effort for head coach Richard Schmidt's squad included five scorers in double figures as Rashad Callaway led the way with 21. Fred Woods added 16 while earning his first start of the season as Anthony Griffis and Glyn Hunter added 15 apiece. Graham also finished with 12.

The Spartans won the battle of the boards 40-29, with Woods leading all UT players with 11. The double-double was the fourth of the season and third consecutive for the senior forward from Milwaukee, Wis.

Callaway notched a team-high nine assists while Graham came away with two steals. Though being outshot 51.9 to 44.4 percent, the Spartans were the benefactors of 14 long-range shots, with four apiece coming from Callaway and Hunter, who provided a boost off the bench for UT.

Tampa is back on the road for a Wednesday meeting with Florida Tech in an SSC contest. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Melbourne, Fla. Live stats and a webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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