Spartans Set To Host Florida Tech In The Quarterfinals Of The SSC Tournament

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team is set to host Florida Tech in the quarterfinals of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Wednesday. Tip-off time is set for 7:30 p.m. inside the Bob Martinez Sports Center. The winner will advance to the semifinals held in Melbourne, Fla., and will play the winner of the contest between Barry and Rollins.

The Spartans sealed the fourth spot of the SSC after its victory against Florida Tech Saturday in a 79-75 battle. UT ended the regular season with a 21-6 overall record and 10-6 in the SSC. The Panthers enter the tournament with an overall record of 19-11 overall and 9-7 in the SSC.

Tampa leads the all-time series record against Florida Tech 44-18, after splitting the regular season match-up (1-1). Last season the Spartans suffered a loss in the SSC quarterfinals in its last three appearances in SSC tournament play. UT edges Florida Tech (5-1) in the conference tournament as Tech's last appearance in the tourney came in the 2008-09 season where they lost to Florida Southern.

Florida Tech handed the Spartans its second loss of the season 81-67 back in January. Tampa then defeated the Panthers for its second match-up. Coached by Billy Mims, Tech is led by senior Justin Sedlak who averaged 20 points per game during the regular season and Anthony Jackson who chipped in just over 13 points per game.

Tampa has won three of its last four contests while ranked among the top in the conference for scoring defense, blocked shots, rebounds and three-point field goals made.

Coached by Richard Schmidt, UT has three players averaging double figures as senior Rashad Callaway leads the team 18.6 points per game and a total of 55 steals. Junior Anthony Griffis chips in with 15.9 points per game and senior Fred Woods rounds out the bunch with 12.3 points per game and a total of 47 blocks on the season. Key role players Ashton Graham and Callum Townsend both contribute 8.6 points per game. Griffis leads the conference in free throw percentage with 86.2 percent while Callaway leads the conference in total steals.

Tampa hopes to carry out its momentum of late in efforts to drive the squad in the tournament as they wish to move up in regional rankings and make an appearance in the NCAA regional tournament.