Rollins Hoops set to Host 37th Annual Tangerine Tourney

AT A GLANCE - After winning its first seven games and rising to No. 10 in the national poll, Rollins went bust in Las Vegas, losing two-straight to head into the 37th annual Winter Park Rotary Tangerine Tournament 7-2 and looking to get back on track. The Tars fell to Western Washington 80-61 to open play and were then outlasted by Central Washington 88-80 in the finale. The Tars couldn't find their stroke from the outside in either game out west, shooting a combined 8-of-35 (19 percent) from 3-point range. Chris Malcolm was a shining star against Central, putting up a career high 28 points and nabbing six rebounds. On the season, the Tars have the nation's 39^th-best scoring defense, allowing just 64.4 points a game. The offense generates 70.7 points a game. Rollins is struggling on the glass, being outrebounded by an average of nearly two a game, but makes up for it with 10.8 steals a game, 19^th best in Division II...Lake Erie College is in its first season as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and heads to Winter Park with a record of 4-4. The Storm had dropped each of their first three GLIAC games, but bounced back with a 62-60 win over Northwood (Mich.) the last time out. LEC is minus-4.5 in scoring margin, averaging 63.8 points, but surrendering 68.2. They rank 54^th in the nation in 3-point defense, allowing opponents just 30 percent shooting from outside...West Georgia received six votes in the latest NABC Division II Coaches Poll and stands at 11-1 on the season. The Wolves only blemish was a 73-60 loss to Clayton State at the beginning of December. UWG is coming off a sweep of the Nova Southeastern Classic, defeating the SSC member Sharks 80-76 in overtime and Methodist University 61-59. The win over NSU was the second of the season for West Georgia. UWG is one of the top shooting teams in the nation, hitting 47 percent from the field. They are winning games by an average of 11.4 points a game, putting up 73 points and allowing 62...California (Pa.) is out of the powerful Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and is 6-4 on the season. The Vulcans shook off a four-game losing streak with an 88-48 thumping of Chestnut Hill its last time out. They had won five in a row to start the season, including the first three PSAC games. Cal is netting nearly 80 points a game, but carries just a plus 6.9 scoring margin, allowing 72.3 points per game.

THE STARS - All five of Rollins' starters average double-figures in scoring, led by Jeremy Sharpe's 13.6 points a game. She senior has drained a team-high 19, 3-pointers and also adds 5.1 rebounds per game. Myk Brown is netting 12.6 points a game while Dave Diakite (10.8 ppg), Chris Malcolm (10.7) and Ian Scott (10.3) are also in double-figures. Malcolm leads with 7.2 points and 20 blocks while Scott has tallied 25 steals...Rich Austin paces Lake Erie's attack with 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. Riley Thomas adds 10 points a night while Nate Tait chips in 9.1...Da'Ron Sims is the top producer for West Georiga with 18.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Gavin Field is netting 15 points a game and is tied with Quincy Hill with 22 steals on the season...Keith Lowe leads Cal with 19 points a game, having just played the last contest. Chad Tipton is getting 13.3 a night while Steve Swiech is netting 10 points a game.

THE COACHES - Tom Klusman (Rollins '76), now in his 32nd year at the helm of his alma mater, enters the season chasing career victory 600. He ranks fifth among active Division II coaches and ranks 18th all-time with a record of 581-319... Cliff Hunt (Hiram '69) is in his seventh year leading LEC and holds a career record of 94-77...Michael Cooney (Gonzaga '85) is in his fourth year with West Georgia and is 47-48 at the helm of the program...Bill Brown (Ohio '74) is in his 16^th season at the helm of California and holds a 310-137 record with the Vulcans.

THE SERIES - Rollins is 1-0 all-time against West Georgia, beating the Wolves 75-59 to open the 1991-92 season...The Tangerine Tourney will be the Tars' first meeting with Lake Erie and/or California.

UP NEXT - Rollins is back in action Wednesday, Jan. 4 at home against Palm Beach Atlantic in its final nonconference game of the season. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.