AT A GLANCE - The two-time defending Sunshine
State Conference champion Tars welcome Warner University to Warden
Arena for the 2011-12 home opener. Rollins opened up the season
last Friday with a 63-47 road win against Palm Beach Atlantic. The
Tars were up by just seven at the half, but held the Sailfish to 18
percent shooting in the second frame to runaway with the win. Myk
Brown led the way for Rollins, putting up 19 points behind three,
3-pointers and a 6-for-6 performance at the stripe. Dave Diakite
added 13 points and seven rebounds while Jeremy Sharpe netted 10.
Tonight, the Tars will face a very potent Warner University squad,
who enters that game 4-1 and riding back-to-back victories. Most
recently, the Royals posted a 115-80 win over Trinity College. They
also beat the Tigers 113-68 earlier in the season to go along with
wins over Milligan College (98-77) and Clearwater Christian
(87-64). Their one loss was a 78-71 decision to Edward Waters. On
the season, the Royals are putting up nearly 97 points a game.
THE STARS - Brown is the Tars top-returning
scorer from last season, averaging 12 points a game as a junior. He
led the SSC in free throw shooting, hitting 86 percent from the
line, and ranks 10th in Tars history, hitting 83 percent for his
career. Newcomer Dave Diakite and Jeremy Sharpe also bring some
instant offense to the Tars' attack. The Tars graduated more than
60 percent of its scoring output from last season, including
three-time All-America guard Nick Wolf. The Cincinnati native left
the program as the second all-time leading scorer (2,035 points)
and rebounder (1,046 rebounds)... Warner is averaging nearly 97
points a game and are led by Malcolm Campbell's 18 points a night.
Bryce Kachinski nets 15 a night while David Westberry averages 13
points and six assists a game.
THE COACHES - Tom Klusman, now in his 32nd year
at the helm of his alma mater, enters the season with a chance to
earn career victory 600. He ranks fifth among active Division II
coaches with 575 victories, which is 18th all-time....A familiar
face is at the helm of the Royals in fifth-year head coach Sean
Hanrahan. He served as an assistant under Klusman for two seasons
(1999-01) before spending five years at Florida Southern.
THE SERIES - Rollins and Warner last met on
Nov. 19, 2010 in Winter Park with the Tars posting a 91-75 victory.
Matt Robertson led Rollins with 21 points while Wolf chipped in 20
points and 10 rebounds. Brown (9-10 free throws) added 14...
Brennan Taylor led the Royals with 20 points. Rollins leads the
all-time series 11-2.
UP NEXT - Rollins spends the next two weeks at
home, facing Webber International on Monday, Nov. 21 and Puerto
Rico-Rio Piedras at Noon on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
