VALDOSTA, GA. (November 12, 2010) - Senior Matt
Robertson filled up the stat sheet with two career-highs and
led 17th-ranked Rollins to an 82-70 season-opening win
over Delta State at the Gulf South/Sunshine State Challenge.
Robertson set new career highs in points with 24 and steals with
five. He also tallied eight rebounds and four assists, all while
not turning the ball over once. The Birmingham, Ala. native was
very efficient, hitting 10-of-13 from the field, including 1-of-2
from 3-point range, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw
line.
Nick
Wolf scored in double-digits for the 68th straight
game, netting 19 points and adding eight rebounds. Chris
Malcolm added nine off the bench as every player who saw action
for the Tars (1-0) scored at least two points.
Chris Poellnitz led the Statesmen (0-1) with 20 points. Arian
Maliqi added 16 while Marqueys Brown added 12.
Rollins hit 65 percent (17-26) from the floor in the second half
and shot 56 percent (30-54) on the night while holding DSU to a 48
percent (28-58) shooting. The Tars won the battle on the boards,
outrebounding Delta State 32-28 and forced 18 turnovers while
committing just 11.
Quick scores by Myk
Brown and Robertson established the tempo and put the Tars up
4-0. Delta came back and took a 7-6 lead after the first five
minutes, but it would be their only of the game as the Tars popped
off a 12-5 run over the next six minutes and led 18-11 with 8:34 to
play in the half.
Delta State cut the Rollins lead to four on two difference
occasions before the Tars swung all the momentum their way,
finishing the half on a 10-4 run and earning a 35-25 lead at
intermission.
The Statesmen came out of the locker room on fire, outscoring
Rollins 16-4 over the first three minutes of the second half and
cut the Tars lead to 41-39. A lay-in by Robertson and triple by
Wolf got the Tars rolling again, but DSU answered back and knotted
the score at 46-46 with 14:56 to play.
Robertson then caught fire, scoring the Tars' next nine points
and allowing Rollins to open up a 55-48 lead. The advantage grew to
as much as 13, 70-57, with under five minutes to play as the
Statesmen would not get any closer than seven the rest of the
way.
