WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 7, 2007) ' The 18th
ranked Rollins men's basketball team cut the lead to one twice in
the final three minutes, but couldn't get over the hump and were
upset by the University of Tampa, 67-60 at home on Wednesday.
Rollins drops to 18-4 overall and 9-2 in Sunshine State Conference
play and are even with Barry for the conference lead. Both Tars'
losses in the SSC this season are at the hands of the Spartans.
Jonny Reibel provided his usual solid night, leading Rollins
with 15 points and six assists. Kevin Hogan chipped in 14 points
while Craig Reichel added 11 and gathered a team high seven
rebounds.
Tampa (13-11, 5-7 SSC) was paced by 20 points from Chris King,
who shot 7-15 from the field, including 4-9 from long range. Chris
Evans recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while
Jeffrey Moore and Jeff James each added 10 points.
The Spartans beat the Tars on the boards 34-30 and out shot
Rollins 43 percent (21-49) to 40 percent (23-57). Both teams took
care of the ball with Rollins committing 10 turnovers and forcing
13 from Tampa.
Rollins was slow to get going and UT knocked the Tars on their
heels, running out to a 19-7 lead over the first 10 minutes. Evans
provided the spark, connecting on a pair of three's and a dunk
during the span while Rollins missed 10 of their first 13 shots.
The Tars cut the lead to single digits at the five minute mark,
28-20, but Tampa ended the half on a small 6-3 run to take a 34-23
lead into the locker room.
Tampa went up by as much as 17 early in the second half, but the
Tars chipped away and cut the lead to 13 at the 10:45 mark. After a
UT bucket, another Reichel lay-up on Rollins' next trip down the
floor sparked a 14-2 run that brought the Tars to within one,
56-55. Still down one, Reibel snared an offensive rebound off a
missed free-throw, but couldn't capitalize as UT raced down the
floor for the score. Reibel answered with a lay-up to again cut it
to one, but Moore hit from long range on the Spartans next
possession. UT then hit six straight from the stripe and sealed up
the seven point win.
Rollins will look to bounce back on Saturday, February 10 at
home against Lynn. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Alfond
Sports Center. The Tars downed the Fighting Knights 68-52 early in
the year in Boca Raton. The game can be heard live locally on 91.5
WPRK Winter Park and world-wide on the Tars Sports Network at www.RollinsSports.com.
