Matchup:
Rollins travels to Melbourne this weekend, opening its
2015-16 season at the SSC/SIAC South Region Crossover, hosted by
Florida Tech.
When:
Nov. 13 - Rollins vs. Paine - 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 15 - Rollins vs. Clark Atlanta - 2 p.m.
Where:
Clemente Center - Melbourne, Fla.
Head coach Tom
Klusman is set to begin his 36th season at the helm
of Rollins men's basketball as the Tars travel to Melbourne for the
SSC/SIAC South Region Crossover Nov. 13-14. The Sunshine State
Conference versus Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
event also features Florida Tech, Paine and Clark Atlanta. Fans
can listen live on the Geico Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: Coach Klusman and the Tars
return seven letterwinners, including two starters, while adding
five newcomers. The top three scorers from a year ago are all back
this season, led by Alex
Blessig who averaged 11.8 a game last year. Jeff
Merton was second on the team last season, netting 11.1 points
per game, and led the team in rebounding, hauling in an even 5.0 a
game. Sharif
Almulla averaged 10.0 points per game and 3.0 rebounds
Rollins adds a pair of Division I transfers to the mix in junior
guard Deion
Clark from Old Dominion and junior forward Jack
Fleming by way of Colgate. Clark started nine games as a
freshman for the Monarchs and averaged 5.2 points a night. Fleming
also contributed as a freshman, playing in six games and shot 50%
from the field.
Suiting up for the Tars for the first time this weekend are
three redshirt freshmen: Eric
Castaneda, Marcus
Camacho, and Zach
Ullian. The trio will also be looked upon right away to
contribute.
Rollins is looking to for a win in their season opener for the
second straight season, defeating Clark Atlanta to begin the
season, 80-76.
Tars coach Tom
Klusman (Rollins '76, '78MBA) is in his 36th-year leading the
program and carries a 632-373 career record. He has the fifth most
victories among active Division II coaches and ranks
12th in total victories.
PAINE AT A GLANCE: The Lions were picked to
finished second in the East Division of the SIAC, led by SIAC
preseason Player of the Year Denzel Dillingham.
Dillingham, the league's Player and Newcomer of the Year last
season, led the SIAC in scoring last season and averaged 21.0
points a game. He shot 48.5 percent from the field and 45.2 percent
(80-for-177) from the 3-point range, which also led the conference.
Dillingham averaged 5.0 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists last year
where he helped the Lions to a 23-6 record. Paine won the SIAC
regular season east division title with a 17-2 mark in conference
play.
Arnis Libazs was also selected to the preseason All-SIAC team
after averaging 13.4 points per game a year ago, with 7.4 rebounds
and shot 55.4 percent from the field. He also tallied 31
blocks.
Chase Campbell was named Interim Head Coach at Paine in June,
taking over after the departure of Coach Jimmy Link to Clayton
State University.Coach Campbell previously served as the assistant
basketball coach since 2013. During his tenure, he helped lead the
Lions to a 23-7 record and a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference regular season title in 2014-15.
CLARK ATLANTA A GLANCE: The Panthers were
chosen to finish fifth in the SIAC Preseason Coaches Poll while
senior Cornell Bennett was named Preseason All-SIAC. Bennett poured
in 15.2 points per game a year ago while also collected 7.2
rebounds a night.
Clark Atlanta went 6-18 overall in 2014-15, averaging just under
80 points per game while allowing 82.6 defensively. Junior Derek
Harper is also back for the Panthers after putting up 11.8 points
per game while Damien Enoch was second on the team in rebounding,
collecting an even five per game to go along with 8.0 points per
game.
Tony LaMarr is in his third season leading the Panthers after
serving three years as an assistant in the program. As the interim
head coach, he led a resurgence for CAU 2013-14, improving their
win total by 11 from the previous year.
NEXT UP FOR ROLLINS: The Tars open up their
home schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 17 against Ave Maria at 6 p.m. Fans
can follow all the action live on the Geico Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com.
