The University of Tampa Spartans were beaten at the buzzer by the Florida Southern Moccasins in the Sunshine State Conference finals Sunday. The top seeded Mocs lost both regular season match-ups to second seed Tampa. Each school has a member named to the SSC first all-star team. Tampa’s Jeremy Black and Florida Southern’s Rob Eldridge both scored double digits in the first half.
Black also spearheaded the Spartans’ early defensive effort recording a steal, two blocks, and eight total rebounds. Tampa’s man-to-man coverage contained the Mocs’ allowing the offense to create a 14-8 lead seven minutes into the half.
Chris Evans and fellow starter Chris King committed two early fouls a piece and retired to the bench for the remainder of the half. Tampa had six steals allowing fast breaks for Rashad Callaway who continued to beat Florida Southern down court.
With 8:30 left in the half, Johnathan Ball joined fellow starters Evans and King on the bench. As Florida Southern surpassed Tampa, Ball returned to play but couldn’t retake the lead.
The Spartan’s faced the long end of a seven point deficit with 2:30 in the half. Drives from Ball cut into the Mocs’ lead but a meager 22.2 percent foul shooting left Tampa facing a 37-32 hole at the half.
All five of Tampa’s starters took the court for the second half. The Mocs’ opened on a 12-2 run. Evans and Ball each sunk a three to send the streak the other way. Eldridge committed his fourth foul and Florida Southern benched their SSC all-star with 14:45 to play.
With ten to go, Evans picked up his third and fourth fouls and he was benched. Tampa pulled within five with five minutes remaining. A jumper by the recently returned Evans propelled the Spartans into the lead with 3:15 on the clock. Florida Southern responded by scoring the next drive to give them the 63-62 edge.
The two teams traded foul shots for the next minute and a half. At 37 seconds, Callaway was sent to the line as Eldridge was sent to the bench for his fifth foul. Callaway made one to tie. Spartan defense repelled the last second attack and called a timeout with 0.7 left on the clock. The inbounded ball was overthrown and possession again switched to Florida Southern.
Graham could not follow through on the pass and the game moved to overtime tied at 69.
Black won the tip and quickly added a pair for Tampa. The lead was held for two minutes before Graham sunk a three giving his ball club a one point advantage. Ball answered by sinking a three of his own on Tampa’s following drive. Two more successful Spartan drives were met by Mocs’ foul shots.
Tampa was unable to capitalize on a late drive and Florida Southern took a three point lead. A travelling call gave the Mocs’ possession with 25 seconds to play. A long three by Callaway tied the game at 81 with only a few seconds to play. The Mocs’ wasted no time and managed to sink a buzzer beating layup for the championship.
Black and Callaway played all 45 minutes for Tampa. Callaway shot a team-high 27 points while Black recorded a double-double with 26 points and 17 rebounds. Spartan free throw shooting improved from 22.2 percent in the first half to 85.7 percent in the second. The score was tied 11 times, and 18 times the lead switched hands.