WINTER PARK, Fla. (November 23, 2011) - Rollins
used a big second half run to shake off a hot shooting Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras squad as the Tars beat the Gallitos 81-70 Wednesday
afternoon.
The win keeps Rollins perfect on the year, opening the season
4-0.
Myk Brown poured in a game-high 21 points to go
along with three assists and two steals. Jeremy Sharpe went 5-for-9 from 3-point range and
added 17 points while Dave Diakite chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.
Brett Chance scored in double-figures for the second straight game
with 11.
Hector Maldonado had the hot hand for Rio Piedras (0-2),
shooting 11-for-23 and hitting nine 3-pointers for a game-high 33
points. Ramon Matos added 14 while Joseph Vegerano handed out 14
assists.
The game started with a quick pace as a Sharpe triple gave
Rollins an 8-7 lead three minutes in. Angel Acevedo answered with a
three on the other end to spark a 9-2 UPR run that put the visitors
up by eight with 13:02 left in the period.
Back-to-back buckets from Jeff Dirkin later in the frame cut the lead to 21-20,
but Maldonado stayed hot and the Gallitos rebuilt the lead, putting
Rollins in a 39-31 hole at the 3:23 mark.
Brown caught fire in last two minutes of the half, single
handily outscoring UPR 10-2 to give Rollins a 44-41 lead at the
break.
A quick Roberto Vazquez tip-in and Maldonado 3-pointer to begin
the second half put the Gallitos back on top, 46-44. Sharpe then
connected from long range on the Tars next trip down the floor to
start a 10-0 run and put the Tars up for good.
Rollins slowly pulled away and led by as much as 14 late in the
game. A Brown steal and Diakite tomahawk dunk with three minutes to
play provided the exclamation point on the Tars' fourth-straight
win.
Rollins shot a season-best 58 percent (29-50) from the floor,
including 11-of-20 (55 percent) from 3-point range. Rio Piedras was
15-of-25 in the first half, but cooled off in the second and ended
the game 49 percent (26-53) from the field. The Tars won on the
boards, 30-23.
Rollins will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday before opening
up Sunshine State Conference play at Tampa on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Fans can listen to all the action
live on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com.
