TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tampa's Size Too Much For Bayamon

ADVERTISEMENT

By MATTHEW POSTINS Tribune correspondent

Published: November 25, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Three separate scoring runs and a distinct size advantage fueled the University of Tampa's 88-79 victory against Puerto Rico-Bayamon on Saturday night at the Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic.

The Spartans (3-1) won their second straight game, thanks in part to having four starters taller than Bayamon's tallest starter, who was 6-foot-4.

"We were trying to pound the ball inside to Chris Evans and Jeremy Black," UT coach Richard Schmidt said. "The guards really passed well, and they were getting some pretty easy baskets inside."

No Spartan benefited more than the 6-8 senior Evans, who had a double-double by halftime with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Evans scored five of UT's first 11 points, part of an 11-2 run that gave put the Spartans in command.

Evans finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Black, also had a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He went 15-of-19 from the free throw line.

UT extended its lead, building another scoring run by using its established inside game to suck in the Vaqueros' 2-3 zone. Evans and Black then fed the Spartans' outside shooters, including Johnathan Ball and Rashad Callaway, for a 19-5 run and a 30-7 lead with 12:14 left in the first half.

"It the inside success just opened some things up for us," Evans said.

The Vaqueros (0-3) shot 52.5 percent for the game.

After the Vaqueros cut the lead to eight to start the second half, the Spartans used their own pressure defense to force four straight turnovers and spark a decisive 12-0 run to give them a 65-45 lead.

"We never should have let it get that close, though," Schmidt said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT