Rollins snapped a two game skid its last time out and makes a
return trip to South Florida to face Nova Southeastern on
Wednesday. With four games left in the regular season, the Tars
still have an outside chance at the Sunshine State Conference title
and a top seed in the SSC Tournament. NSU endured a four-game
losing streak to begin the month but have since rattled off two
wins in a row. Rollins posted an 11-point win in the first meeting
between the teams. Fans can listen to all the action live on the
Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM
WPRK.
ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: Rollins tallied a
much-needed win at Lynn on Saturday to stop a run of four losses in
five games. The Tars are third in the SSC standings, a game and a
half back of Saint Leo and two full games behind Florida Southern.
Rollins meets SLU at home on Saturday and will face the
ninth-ranked Mocs in the season finale in Lakeland.
Rollins was engaged in a defensive battle with Lynn and earned a
key 53-46 road win. The Tars shot 13-of-38 (34 percent) from the
field, including a 3-of-16 mark from 3-point range. The victory was
won as the charity stripe as Rollins connected on 22-of-33 while
Lynn was 12-of-13. The Fighting Knights didn't fare much better
from the field, hitting 16-of-45 (36 percent), including 2-of-20
three-point attempts. Kyle McClanahan led Rollins with 13 points,
three rebounds and three steals. Mitch Woods added 12 points, five
rebounds and two assists.
McClanahan has been the Tars top scorer the last four games and
leads the team with 14.5 points a night. He is the second-best
shooter in the league (.562 FG%), ranks third in assists per game
(4.8) and third in minutes played (35.0). Dave Diakite is netting
13.7 a night and is the top rebounder with 6.4 a night. Adam Allen
is one of the top 3-point shooters in the SSC and is scoring 10.4 a
game.
Rollins is third in the conference in scoring offense (72.5 ppg)
and scoring defense (65.6 ppg) and is the top shooting team,
hitting 47 percent from the field. The Tars are the worst offensive
rebounding team in the conference, but are the best on the
defensive end and rank fourth overall, out-rebounding teams by 2.9
a game.
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN AT A GLANCE: The Sharks were
headed on a downward spiral at the beginning of February but have
answered a four-game losing streak with its current two game
winning streak. The game against Rollins will be a third of
four-straight home games for NSU. The Sharks last time out of a
75-52 win over Tampa. Iran Hollis was the Sharks' leader in points
and rebounds, with 13 and seven, respectively. Justin Jeangerard
recorded career-highs with seven assists and seven steals. He also
had five rebounds in the contest. Maurice Fuller had 12 points on
4-for-7 shooting.
Hollis is the Sharks leading scorer on the season with 12.3
points a night, while ranking third in the SSC in rebounding with
6.9 a game. Roesch is netting 11.2 points a game while Brian
Cahall is putting up 10.9 a night.
NSU is scoring 71 points a night and ranks sixth in the SSC in
offense, while also sitting sixth in defense with 70.5 a game. The
Sharks are the fourth-best shooting team, hitting 45 percent from
the field.
Nova Southeastern is 8-5 at home this season, including a 2-4
mark in the conference.
LAST MEETING: JAN. 16 - Rollins 74, Lynn 63-
Dave Diakite matched his career high in points and set a new
standard in rebounds, leading 24th-ranked Rollins past Nova
Southeastern 74-63 in the first meeting. Diakite scored 25 points
for the second straight game, shooting 6-of-10 from the field
(3-of-4, 3-point) and 10-for-14 from the free throw line. The
senior also gathered a career-best 13 rebounds, four offensive, and
tallied two steals. Brett Chance added 13 points, Mitch Woods
netted 11 and Chris Uhle scored 10. Maurice Fuller led the Sharks
with 19 points while Iran Hollis recorded 12 points and five
boards.
THE SERIES: Rollins is 27-7 all-time against
the Sharks and has won six of the last seven.
THE COACHES: Rollins leader Tom Klusman
(Rollins '76) is in his 33rd year at the helm of the program and
carries a career record of 606-336. He is one of five active
coaches in Division II with 600 career wins and is just the 15th
all-time to reach the milestone. Gary Tuell (Louisville, '73) is in
his eighth year at Nova Southeastern and is 416-330 all-time as a
head coach.
