MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (February 24, 2007) ' In the
game to decide this year's Sunshine State Conference regular season
champion, it was all Rollins as the Tars rolled up a decisive 76-47
victory over Barry on Saturday. The Tars win gives both schools a
share of the 2006-07 crown with identical 13-3 conference records,
but it will be Rollins as the top seed in next week's SSC
Tournament as the Tars swept the Bucs in the season series.
It was a near carbon copy of the two school's earlier match-up
as Rollins' (22-5, 13-3) zone defense gave Barry (22-5, 13-3) fits
all day while hot outside shooting by the Tars led to the rout.
Point guard Jonny Reibel led four Tars in double figures and added
to his resume for SSC Player of the Year with 17 points, 10
assists, five rebounds and two steals. Center Craig Reichel added
15 points and nine boards with Kevin Hogan netting 13 points and
John Thinnes putting up 10.
Gabe Lazo, who entered the game averaging just three points a
game, hit 5-9 from long range and led Barry with 15 points. Ryan
Saunders added nine points with Eddie Young and Amadou Fall each
netting seven.
Rollins shot 55 percent in the game, including a blazing 61
percent in the second half. Barry struggled from the field, hitting
just 28 percent in the contest. The Tars owned the glass,
out-rebounding their hosts 38-23 in the game.
Rollins opened up a 13-0 advantage and quieted Barry's
homecoming crowd of 1,114, holding the Bucs scoreless through the
first seven minutes. The Tars continued to attack at all angles and
used a 16-3 run in the middle of the first half to push the lead to
21 at 32-11. Lazo started to heat up and cut into the advantage for
the Bucs, but a last second, fall-away jumper from Reibel to end
the half gave Rollins a 38-17 lead at the break.
Barry began the second half on a 9-2 run and cut the lead to 15,
but Rollins got it back to 23 with a Deon Troupe steal and lay-up
with 13 minutes to play. Lazo again got going for the Bucs, but it
was Troupe who provided the dagger with back to back three-pointers
to push the Rollins advantage to 26, 59-33 halfway through the
half. The Tars then cruised the last 10 minutes and left Miami with
a piece of the SSC crown.
The 2006-07 Sunshine State Conference title is Rollins second in
a row, fourth in the last five years, and sixth overall.
The Tars will take the No. 1 seed into next week's SSC
Tournament, which will be hosted by Lynn in Boca Raton. Rollins
will match-up with the winner of Florida Tech vs. Florida Southern
in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 2. Game times will be posted
on the SSC Web site and at RollinsSports.com when they become
available. All games of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament
can be heard live locally on WPRK 91.5 FM, Winter Park and
worldwide on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com.
