TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa men’s basketball team overcame a slow first half shooting performance to beat Alabama-Huntsville 63-56 and conclude SSC-GSC Crossover Challenge play with two wins in two games. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: University of Tampa Spartans 63, University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers 56 
Records: University of Tampa (2-0, 0-0 SSC), University of Alabama-Huntsville (1-1, 0-0 GSC)
Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: Tampa now leads the all-time series 4-3. The Spartans have won the last two matchups after dropping three in a row to the Chargers. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | The Chargers jumped out to an early four-point lead midway through the first half, sinking two of their first three-point field goals. Dalton Dodd’s three-pointer from the wing gave Alabama-Huntsville the 13-9 edge with ten minutes to play in the half. The Spartans would go on a 8-0 run to regain the lead, 19-15, holding the Chargers scoreless for over three minutes. UAH would tie the game at 21 with a two-hand jam from Dalton Barkley, but the Spartans would answer at the other end. Anthony Gamble scored an easy layup on a pass from Pat Bacon to put the Spartans back up by two. Tampa and Alabama-Huntsville finished the half knotted at 23. Cedric Belemene led the way for UT in the early going at both ends of the floor, scoring seven points, grabbing five rebounds and blocking three shots. 

 

2nd Half | Alabama-Huntsville came out of the locker room firing, draining a pair of three-pointers to lead Tampa 29-26. However, the Chargers would go on a scoreless drought for over three minutes, allowing the Spartans to regain the lead, 33-29. Vincent Biffle caught fire midway through the second half, scoring 10 straight points to put Tampa ahead 39-35 with 11 minutes to play. Both teams would trade baskets over the next five minutes of play, resulting in two ties and four lead changes before Biffle sank a triple to put Tampa ahead 50-47. Despite a late charge by Alabama-Huntsville, Tampa would hold on for the win with Belemene splitting the defense and laying in an easy basket to seal the game for UT. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Two Spartans finished the game with a double-double. Belemene finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Biffle racked up 14 points and 11 rebounds. 
• UAH had the edge from beyond the arc, outshooting Tampa (41 percent to Tampa’s 20 percent) from three-point land.
• The Spartans outrebounded the Chargers 41-33 and finished with nine second-chance points to UAH’s two. 

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Biffle has now posted a double-double in back-to-back games. He posted 14 points and 11 rebounds, the exact same stat line, against the University of Montevallo in the opening game of the season.

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will head to Pensacola, Fla. on Nov. 16 to clash with the University of West Florida at 5 p.m. 

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