Tampa topples Miles
Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. -- When
Chauncey Day missed a running 3-pointer as time expired Monday night, Miles had just seen its chance at victory evaporate in a 73-72 loss to host Tampa in the Tampa Classic at the Martinez Athletic Center.
While the score meant that the Golden Bears had just lost their sixth straight game and went 0-4 on its trip through Florida, it did not show the improvement the team has undergone in the nine days since it departed from Birmingham in search of an identity and stability as it prepares to enter Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with designs on a conference championship.
The Golden Bears did not trail in the game until the final 40 seconds of the contest. The defensive pressing and trapping that had been spotty for most of the early season was running full throttle against the Spartans, causing multiple turnovers that led to easy baskets, which is how Miles scored the first eight points of the game to give an early cushion.
There were contributions from players who had, for the most part, not taken lead roles before this trip began.
 Aron Stewart had 14 points and seven rebounds in 38 minutes. He was forced to play most of the game after
Shaquille Cook and
Eric Halliwell (season-high eight rebounds) both fouled out. He delivered with some monstrous dunks and an inside presence that altered several shots.
E. Reginald Smalls, who came into the game shooting 21 percent on 3-pointers, hit 4-of-5 from downtown and also scored 14 points.
Miles opened a double-digit lead in the first half but led just 35-31 at the break. The Spartans would cut the deficit to two points early in the second half but when Stewart took a pass from
Carl Garcia on the baseline and slammed it home past two Tampa defenders, the Golden Bears led 61-47. With 9:39 remaining, it looked like the trip would have a victorious ending.
Unfortunately, Miles was unable to finish.
Javier McKinney (seven points, six steals) scored with 3:14 to go to give the team a 69-61 lead. But it would be the final field goal the Golden Bears would make. Meanwhile, Tampa could suddenly not miss. When Matt Johnson stole an errant pass and scored with 40 seconds left, it gave the Spartans a 72-70 lead - their first of the game - and completed a run where they made their last eight shots from the field.
Duke Shelton scored 27 points and Austin Rettig added 14 points for Tampa.
Sheldon Wright had 10 points while
Joshua Johnson added eight points and four assists for Miles.
Â
