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Florida Tech Panthers

MBB @ Tampa
Team vs Tampa
65
Florida Tech FT 6-8,2-4 Sunshine State
78
Winner Tampa UT 8-4,2-3 Sunshine State
Florida Tech FT
6-8,2-4 Sunshine State
65
Final
78
Tampa UT
8-4,2-3 Sunshine State
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Florida Tech FT 22 43 65
Tampa UT 40 38 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Second Half Comeback Effort Falls Short Against Tampa

Tampa, Florida – Florida Tech Men's Hoops was in action for the first time in 2026 this afternoon as they traveled across the state. The Panthers took on the University of Tampa in the first of two conference meetings with the Spartans.

SSC PLAY – GAME SIX
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 65, Tampa Spartans 78
Records: Florida Tech (6-8, 2-4 SSC) | Tampa (8-4, 2-3 SSC)
Location: Bob Martinez Center | Tampa, Florida

GAME NOTES:
First Half:
  • Tonight's contest began with the Tech defense forcing five straight missed shots as they held Tampa scoreless through the first few minutes of the game.
  • Xavier Ford-Belton got the Panthers on the board with back-to-back finishes at the rim to give Tech a 4-2 lead.
  • Despite the defensive success early in the half, the Spartans drilled three straight three-pointers in a row to shoot out to a double-digit advantage.
  • Ca'Darrius Sowell got into the lane and converted a three-point play and Noah Van Bibber hit a three to cut into the lead, but Tech still trailed 14-10.
  • However, after the Panthers cut the lead to four, Tampa exploded again for a 10-2 run to grow their lead to 24-12 with ten minutes left in the first half.
  • Sowell answered the run with a three of his own, followed by a floater from the charity stripe, but Tampa continued to find their shot as the Spartan advantage stayed in double digits.
  • Ty Harpring hit a three-pointer in the final minutes of the half, but the Panthers were unable to slow down the shot-making of the Spartans.
HALFTIME SCORE - Florida Tech 22, Tampa 40
Second Half:
  • Coming out of the break, Sowell made a jumper from the elbow, and Harpring hit a floater, but Tampa responded with back-to-back threes.
  • Harping and Van Bibber each drilled three pointers as the Panther offense started to heat up, but Tech was still unable to get stops in bunches as Tampa led 59-41.
  • At the midway mark of the second half, Grant Lovette hit a three-pointer, and Sowell got into the lane for an easy bucket at the rim.
  • Harping made another shot from beyond the arc, Matt Daulerio got inside the paint for a layup, and Van Bibber hit another three as the contest reached the five minute mark of the second half.
  • The Panthers continued to make shots in the final minutes of the game, but the deficit was too big to overcome.
FINAL SCORE - Florida Tech 65, Tampa 78

UP NEXT: The Panthers will stay on the road and head south for a conference matchup with Lynn University. This contest is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7th at 7:30 PM.

For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech Men's Basketball, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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