LAS VEGAS, NEV. (December 15, 2011) - Western
Washington used big runs in each half to hand 10th-ranked Rollins
its first loss of the season, 80-61 to open play at the Great
Western Shootout in Las Vegas.
Dave Diakite went 7-of-12 from the free throw
line and led the Tars (7-1) with 14 points. Myk Brown added 10 points with Ian Scott chipping in nine points and seven rebounds.
All nine players in uniform scored at least three points.
John Allen hit four, 3-pointers and netted a game-high 20 points
to pace WWU (10-1). Zach Henifin posted 18 points and 10
rebounds.
The Vikings shot 45 percent (28-62) in the game, including a
14-for-28 mark from 3-point range. Rollins went 16-of-40 (40
percent) from the floor and just 2-of-16 from beyond the arc.
WWU committed 30 fouls, leading to the Tars shooting 27-of-42
from the stripe.
The teams traded baskets to start with a pair of Brett Chance
free throws knotting the score 5-5 after the first three minutes.
The Tars would then commit six turnovers and miss two of three
field goal attempts as the Vikings ran off a 17-2 run over the next
five minutes and took a 22-7 lead.
Rollins closed the gap to 31-21 with six minutes to play in the
half, but would get no closer and went into intermission down
38-28.
WWU slowly pulled away in the second half, using another big run
to go up by as much as 69-44 with seven minutes to play.
Rollins will look to bounce back on Friday, Dec. 16 in day two
of the Great Western Shootout against Central Washington. Tip-off
is slated for 8 p.m. Eastern. Fans can catch all the action live on
the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5
FM, WPRK.
