ATLANTA, Ga. (November 14, 2014) - Rollins
needed a big stop and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch
to hold off Clark Atlanta 80-76 Friday night in the opening game of
the 2014-15 season.
Four players scored in double figures, led by 16 points and
eight rebounds from Chris
Uhle. The senior was 5-of-8 from the field including four
3-pointers, and hit both free throws. He also tallied two blocks
and moved to within six of the Tars career record.
Sharif
Almulla turned in his best offensive game as a Tar, putting up
16 points while only missing one shot from the field. Alex
Blessig and Scott
Schuette each netted 12 with freshman Jeff
Merton tallying eight points and six rebounds.
Aside from one possession with the score tied at 19, Rollins
(1-0) led the entire first half. The advantage was as many as eight
after a Sam
Philpott jumper made the score 29-21 with just under six
minutes left in the frame. The Panthers closed to within two in the
final seconds before a James
Ferrell free throw at the end of the half put the Tars in the
locker room up 38-35.
In the second, Rollins pushed the lead to a game-high nine on a
Blessig triple three minutes in into the half. The Tars led by nine
twice more before a 10-2 CAU run closed the gap to 52-51 with 12
minutes to play. Uhle answered with a 3-pointer on the ensuing
possession, but Clark came back to take its first lead of the day
after five-straight points from Derek Harper made the count 59-57
in favor of the hosts.
Rollins posted another run to get the momentum back and lead
68-61 before Harper again got hot and put the Panthers ahead 70-69.
Uhle had another answer with a triple on the next possession, but
CAU tied the score at 72 with two minutes to play.
With under a minute to play and the game still tied, Schuette
drilled a contested 3-pointer up against the shot clock that gave
the Tars a 75-72 lead. Damion Enoch found a twisting layup to close
the gap to one and Rollins turned it over on the next
possession.
Clark was letting the clock wind down for a last shot when
Schuette jumped a passing lane and came up with a huge steal. His
two free throws gave Rollins a three-point lead with 10 ticks left.
CAU closed to within two in the final seconds and were put at the
line, but both free throws were missed. Uhle gathered the rebound
and then connected two free throws to seal the game.
Rollins shot 45 percent and hit 10-of-26 from the three-point
line while also connecting on 20-of-27 free throws. The defense
held Clark to 36 percent (23-64) shooting, including 6-of-22 from
long range. The Panthers won on the glass 44-35.
The Tars will be right back at it Saturday, Nov. 15 taking on
Paine to open the second day of play at the South Region
Challenge.
