Matchup:
Rollins (6-5) vs. Florida Memorial (1-8)
When:
Saturday, January 3, 2015 - 2 p.m.
Where:
Warden Arena inside the Alfond Sports Center - Winter
Park, Fla.
Rollins is right back at it just 24 hours after its last game,
hosting Florida Memorial Saturday in Warden Arena at 2 p.m. The
Tars started off the New Year with a bang, beating Palm Beach
Atlantic 89-61 Friday afternoon. Florida Memorial travels to Winter
Park from Miami Gardens and plays in NAIA The Sun Conference. The
Lions stand at 1-8 on the season. Fans can listen to all the action
live on the Geico Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and
locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: The Tars had had their
biggest scoring output of the season against PBA Friday, winning
89-61. Rollins led by as many as 43 in the middle of the second
half. Alex
Blessig led the way with 17 points, five assists and three
steals. Jeff
Dirkin added 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and pair of
blocks. Sharif
Almulla (14 pts.) and Jeff
Merton (13 pts.) also scored in double figures. Rollins was a
season-best 55 percent from the field and outrebounded the 'Fish
35-28.
Blessig is on top of the season box score, averaging 12.9 points
a game. His four assists a night ranks seventh in the SSC and 2.4
steals is fourth in the conference. Almulla has been heating up as
of late and is putting up 9.5 points a game. Scott
Schuette and Chris
Uhle each add 9.4 points a game with Uhle also pulling down 4.6
boards a game.
Rollins is averaging 69.6 points a game on offense and ranks
fourth in the league in defense, allowing 68.6.
Tars coach Tom
Klusman (Rollins '76, '78MBA) is in his 35th-year leading the
program and carries a 629-359 career record. He has the fourth most
victories among active Division II coaches, trailing only Herb
Magee of Philadelphia, Bob Chipman from Washburn and Tampa's
Richard Schmidt. All-time, Klusman ranks 11th in total
victories.
FLORIDA MEMORIAL AT A GLANCE: The Lions visit
Winter Park after dropping a pair of games at the Miami Garden
Classic over the holidays. Their last time out was a 53-45 loss to
Edward Waters. Isaiah King and Hanif Malloy each scored 13 to pace
FMU. The Lions led 21-19 at the half.
Samuel Dorismond is the only Lion averaging in double figures,
putting up 22 points a game. He did not play in the last two games,
but scored 24 in the Lions win over Kansas Wesleyan. Shaquille
Harding adds 8.9 points a night and Malloy is averaging 8.4 points
a game. Davonte Byrd is the top rebounder, hauling in 7.5 a
game.
The Lions are averaging 61.4 points per game while surrendering
77.2 a night. They have played three other Sunshine State
Conference schools this season, falling to Saint Leo (89-48), Barry
(91-68) and Lynn (102-66).
Head coach Kenny Bellinger is in his 10th season
leading his alma mater.
THE SERIES: Rollins and Florida Memorial have
met twice before with the Tars taking both. Their most recent
match-up was Nov. 30, 2005 in Winter Park, a 73-65 Rollins victory.
Deon Troupe scored 17 points to lead the Tars while John Thinnes
added 14. Christopher McRae scored 15 to lead the Lions.
NEXT UP FOR ROLLINS: The Tars will continue
their five-game home stand and get back into Sunshine State
Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 7 hosting Barry at 7:30 p.m.
Fans can watch all the action live on the Geico Tars Sports Network
at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
