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College basketball

SSC play begins, but UT still struggles

TAMPA -- It might have been just the first game on the conference schedule, but the University of Tampa men's basketball team can not be pleased with the result of its opener Wednesday against Eckerd.

UT was limited to 20 points in the first half and 19 in the second in a 75-39 Sunshine State Conference loss to the rival Tritons. With their fourth loss in their past eight games, the Spartans continued their streaky play after a 5-0 start. The Spartans fell to 9-4 overall and failed to get an opening jump in the competitive SSC race.

Junior forward Achille Ngounou has been the key for the Spartans in the early part of the season. The transfer from Texas Arlington has averaged 14 points per game, fourth best in the conference. He is also No. 1 in rebounding with 9.2 per game.

Ngounou averaged 10.7 points and 10.7 rebounds as Tampa went 2-1 during the holiday break. Ngounou's top outing was a 15-point, nine-rebound effort in a 70-44 win over Worcester State. He also added 11 points and six rebounds in a 68-58 loss to Morehouse and six points and seven rebounds in a 59-54 win over Wayne State. During those games, Ngounou shot 36 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range.

UT has also gotten solid play from 7-foot-2 center Denis Orlov, junior forward Rob Sargeant and freshman point guard Larry McClinton.

Freshman guard Marty Harrington scored a career-high 14 in his first start against Worcester State. Harrington hit four of eight 3-pointers and added two assists and two steals with no turnovers. Earlier in the season, Harrington hit a winning buzzer-beater and sent another game into overtime with a second. Redshirt freshman Joe Anders matched his career high with eight rebounds against Worcester State.

Injuries have also played a part in the Spartans' start.

Senior forward James Mereus is being redshirted with a foot injury. Mereus played in six games this season and averaged 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds. The foot was originally broken last season and pain has flared up again. Mereus' last game was Dec. 29 in UT's 68-58 loss to Morehouse.

Guard Tim Yarn, a transfer who played football at South Carolina, has been hobbled by a knee injury sustained two seasons ago playing football. And Earnest Williams, who started 29 games a season ago, has had his playing time limited with tendonitis in both knees.

UT hosts Barry Saturday, travels to Florida Southern on Wednesday and returns home Jan. 18 against Rollins.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The Spartans have a 10-3 record and lead the SSC in field-goal percentage (.460), blocks (5.62 per game) and defensive rebounds (29.15 per game). The Spartans are also second in team assists with 17.15 per game.

But as well as UT has played, Jessie McDowell and Yushonda Morse have stood out with their individual performances. McDowell, a senior who can play either forward or center, is second in the conference in scoring (17 points per game). She's sixth in the league in rebounding (8.6), second in field-goal percentage (.565) and first in blocks (3.92).

Morse, a junior guard, is not far behind with 16.9 points per game and eight rebounds. Senior guard Liz Wetenkamp and senior forward Andrea Nordholt have been the top playmakers with a combined average of almost 10 assists per game.

The Spartans tipped off their SSC schedule Wednesday with a 69-57 win at Eckerd. UT, which got 13 points from senior forward April Hinton, had five scorers in double figures. Nordholt, Morse and McDowell each added 12 and junior guard Melissa Leonard chipped in 10. UT hosts Barry on Saturday, is at Florida Southern on Wednesday and back home Jan. 18 against Rollins.

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