Rollins Hosts Eckerd in First SSC Tilt

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Eckerd ECM	13	32	45
Rollins RCM	35	38	73

Team

Eckerd ECM

Rollins RCM

Winners of its last three straight games, Rollins opens up Sunshine State Conference play against Eckerd, Saturday Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. in Warden Arena. Fans can catch all the action live with streaming video and audio on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and on radio locally at 91.5 FM WPRK.

ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: Rollins stumbled in its season lid lifter to Warner 58-50, but has since righted the ship and won its last three by an average of nearly 28 points a game. The Tars beat Puerto Rico Bayamon 71-57 and Puerto Rico Rio Piedras 87-53 at home and most recenty went on the road to thump Palm Beach Atlantic 89-54.

Against PBA, Adam Allen was one off his career high, netting 18 points to lead the Tars. The UF transfer hit 7-of-9 from the field, including four 3-pointers, while also hauling in seven rebounds. Fellow former Gator Kyle McClanahan recorded 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Brett Chance chipped in 13 points and six assist with Mitch Woods adding 10 points.

After putting up just 50 points against Warner, Rollins has offense has averaged more than 82 points a game since.

Senior guard Chance leads the season box score with 12 points a game while high-flyer Dave Diakite is putting up 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a night. Winter Park native Kyle McClanahan has filled the stat sheet with 10.3 points, five rebounds, five assists and 1.6 steals a game.

The Tars lead the SSC in defense, allowing just 56 points a game, and have emerged as one of the best rebounding squads in the league with a +8.3 rebounding margin. On offense, Rollins is putting up a seventh-best 69.3 points a night and are first in the conference with 9.3 3-pointer a game.

ECKERD AT A GLANCE: Playing in just its third game of the year, Eckerd visits Winter Park with a perfect 2-0 record. The Tritons hosted a Thanksgiving Tournament last weekend, beating Puerto Rico Bayamon 72-58 and Clark Atlanta 72-70.

In the key South Region win over Clark, Eckerd never led by more than eight in the second half and had to hold off a late charge for the win. Jerrick Stevenson led the way with 21 points off the bench while Malcolm Brunner Jr. added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Winter Springs native Woody Taylor posted 12 points and seven rebounds.

Stevenson's 12.5 points a game leads Eckerd's season box score. Bruner and Taylor are each netting 11.5 a game while Alex Bodney adds 10.5 points a game. The Tritons lead the SSC in 3-point shooting, hitting 48 percent from long range. Eckerd and Tampa (played Ft. Valley St. late Friday) are the last unbeaten teams in the Sunshine State Conference.

COACHES: Tom Klusman continues his quest for 600 wins, currently holding a record of 593-331 over his 27 year career. The Rollins alum is looking to become on of just the five active coaches in Division II to reach the milestone.

Tom Ryan is in his 17^th season leading is alma mater and is 309-162 in that time. He led EC to the Elite Eight in 2003 and the Tritons have finished in the top-five in the SSC 12 of the last 13 seasons.

THE SERIES: Rollins was swept by Eckerd last season but still owns the all-time series 64-47. The last match-up was a 71-57 EC win in St. Petersburg. Jeremy Sharpe netted 20 to lead Rollins while Darrien Mack's 21 points led Eckerd. Rollins' last victory in the series was the 2011 SSC Championship game where the Tars won 75-69.

KLUSMAN CHASING HISTORY: Rollins veteran head coach Tom Klusman stands to join elite company this season as the 15th Division II coach to reach 600 career victories. With seven more wins he will be just the fifth active coach to have reached the milestone. Over the past 10 years, he has totaled 226 wins, the most among any coaches in the Sunshine State Conference during the span.

Division II Winningest Active Coaches by Victories:

1. Herb McGee (Philadelphia) - 941-375

2. Bob Chipman (Washburn) - 721-296

3. Tom Smith (Mo. Western St.) - 608-446

4. Richard Schmidt (Tampa) - 603-300

5. Tom Klusman (Rollins) - 590-330

records heading into season

Rollins coaching staff of Klusman, Kyle Frakes, Brad Ash, Ian Scott and Austin David have a combined 73 years experience on the bench. Klusman, Ash and Scott all laced it up for the Tars in their playing careers.

DUNK 'N COUNT: The Tars this season have already recroded more official dunks than any other two years combined the last decade:

Dave Diakite: 4 made, 2 missed

Chris Uhle: 2 made, 0 missed

Jeff Dirkin: 0 made, 2 missed

Last season, Diakite was nominated for the ESPN2 Dunk of the Year.

DIVISION I SIX-PACK: For the first time under Tom Klusman and perhaps in the more than 100 year history of Rollins basketball, the Tars roster will feature six NCAA Division I transfers. Brett Chance is in his third-year with Rollins since coming over from Canisius. Dave Diakite joined Rollins from cross-town UCF last season. Kyle McClanahan (Florida), Adam Allen (Florida), Mitch Woods (Appalachian St.) and Lukas Winegarner (Radford) are each in their first seasons with Rollins.

DECADE OF DOMINANCE: Over the past 10-years, Rollins is the winningest team in the Sunshine State Conference:

1. Rollins - overall: 223-74 (.750), SSC: 109-47 (.698)

2. Eckerd - overall: 209-93 (.692), SSC :100-56 (.641)

3. Fla. Southern - overall: 211-96 (.687), SSC: 100-56 (.641)

4. Tampa - overall: 159-123 (.563), SSC: 71-85 (.455)

5. Barry - overall: 157-137 (.534), SSC: 71-85 (.455)

NABC DIVISION II COACHES POLL - PRESEASON

1. West Liberty (W.Va.)

2. Washburn (Kan.)

3. Metropolitan State (Colo.)

4. Alabama-Huntsville

5. Bellarmine (Ky.)