SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's basketball team fell in an 88-80 battle against Sunshine State Conference rivals, Tampa Wednesday night inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center. The tight decision moved the Green and Gold's overall record to 5-8, 1-5 SSC while Tampa's season mark improved to 8-3, 4-2 in the league.
 
Francis Sio paced the Lions' offense with 25 points followed by Frank Webb Jr. with 23 points and Robert Fry with 19 points. Frank Webb Jr. recorded his fifth double-double leading the Lions off the iron with 11 rebounds. Cantia Rahming also pulled 11 rebounds, recording his personal season-high off the boards.
 
Saint Leo recorded its' largest lead of the game of five points at 7-2 at the 15:51 minute mark. Tampa gained the lead but Saint Leo fought to keep the game within a possession or two. With the scoreboard at 19-14, Tampa generated a 10-0 run to slip away and claim a 29-14 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. Saint Leo was able to cut the gap with an 8-0 run to bring the game back down to five points at 31-25. Despite the efforts, Tampa sunk a buzzer-beater three to close the half for the double-digit advantage, 45-33.
 
Saint Leo regrouped at the half and came out strong, dishing out a 9-0 run to bring the game within three, 45-42. The game of runs continued as Tampa then scored 10-straight. The run helped propel the Spartans to their largest lead of the game of 20 points at the 10:34 mark; 68-48.
 
The back and forth offensive bursts continued as the Green and Gold strung together a nine-point run to bring the game again within single digits, 73-67. The late comeback efforts wouldn't be enough as Tampa was able to clinch the 88-80 final.
 
Saint Leo continues action in the Sunshine State Conference on the road at Lynn on Saturday, Jan. 8. The Fighting Knights and Lions are set to tip-off at 4:00 p.m. in Boca Raton, Fla.  
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