WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 23, 2008) ' Four
Tars scored in double-figures as Rollins fell to the 25th-ranked
Florida Southern Moccasins for the second time this season 80-76 on
Saturday afternoon at Warden Arena. The win makes Florida Southern
the Sunshine State Conference regular season champions with a 21-7,
12-3 mark, while the loss brings Rollins' record to 18-7 overall
7-7 in the SSC.
Jonny Reibel led all scorers with 22 points going 8-14 from the
field, while Kevin Hogan chipped in 12. Craig Reichel and Nick Wolf
each added 11 points and six rebounds a piece.
Rollins battled Florida Southern in points in the paint 24-20,
but the Mocs' bench tallied 25 points over the Tars' 17 in a game
that featured 10 tied scores and 24 lead changes.
The Tars held a two point lead, 29-27, with five minutes left in
the first half when guard Brandon Jenkins tossed up a three to give
the Mocs the one-point advantage, 30-29. Rollins clawed their way
back with a lay-up and a three-pointer by Reibel to put the Tars up
by four, 34-30. A free throw by Cameron Wooten and a jumper by
Andrei Grant would cut the lead to within one, 34-33, but a Reichel
three gave Rollins a four point lead going into the locker room at
the half, 37-33.
The Mocs came out hot in the second half as Rion Rayfield
drained a quick three to cut the Tars' lead to one, 37-36. The
score would go back and forth until Florida Southern maintained the
lead for five straight minutes when Wolf scored a lay-up to tie the
game at 70-70. A free throw by Reibel gave Rollins a one-point lead
until Jenkins shot another three to put the Mocs up by two with
1:17 remaining, 73-71. A trey by Hogan with 51 seconds left in the
half had Rollins up by one, 74-73.
With 31 seconds left on the clock, Rayfield hit his sixth three
pointer of the game to put the No. 25 Mocs up by two, 76-74.
Rollins would not be able to recover as Florida Southern would go
on to win the game 80-76.
The Tars (18-7, 7-7) will be back in action on Wednesday,
February 27 when they host the Barry University Buccaneers (9-18,
1-12) for senior night at 7:30 p.m. Fans can listen to all the
action live on the Citizens Bank of Florida Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.tv. Fans in Central Florida can also check the game
out on 91.5 FM, WPRK.
