Matchup:
Rollins steps back out of conference play this week,
hosting back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday
When:
Nov. 23 - Rollins vs. Puerto Rico Bayamon - 6 p.m.
Nov. 24 - Rollins vs. Puerto Rico Mayaguez - 2 p.m.
Where:
Warden Arena - Winter Park, Fla.
The Tars have been red hot out of the gates in 2015-16, cruising
to a 5-0 start. Rollins looks to stay perfect heading into a pair
of non-conference home games before the holiday break. Fans can
watch all the action live on the Geico Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com and listen locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: Last time out, Rollins
opened SSC play on Saturday, hosting Tampa in Warden Arena. The
Tars led almost throughout, eventually defeating the Spartans,
86-75.
Junior transfer Deion
Clark had his best game as a Tar to lead Rollins, finishing
with a game high 22 points on 7-10 shooting. Sam
Philpott nearly doubled his career best with 17 points off the
bench, going a perfect 8-8 from the line. Sophomore Jeff
Merton also scored 17 with Sharif
Almulla adding 14, a team high eight rebounds, and five
assists.
The Tars shot 42.4 percent from the field and committed just
seven turnovers compared to the Spartans' 16.
Through five games, Rollins is averaging an even 90 points per
game, outscoring opponents by 22.6 points a night. They are
shooting over 50 percent from the field and better than 88 percent
from the free throw line.
Merton is putting up 18.2 points a game entering Monday to go
along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 asssists. Almulla is also averaging
double figures (13.4 pts/game) and is tied with Mike
Bedulskis for the team lead in rebounds, with both grabbing 5.6
per game.
Tars coach Tom
Klusman (Rollins '76, '78MBA) is in his 36th-year leading the
program and carries a 634-373 career record. He has the fifth most
victories among active Division II coaches and ranks
12th in total victories.
LAST MEETING VS. PR BAYAMON (11/24/14): A close
first half gave way to a blowout in the second as Rollins snapped a
three-game losing streak in a big way, beating the University of
Puerto Rico Bayamon 83-57 Monday night.
All 11 players in uniform scored for Rollins (3-3), led by four
in double-figures. Freshman Jeff
Merton set a new career-high with 13 points to go along with
six rebounds. Scott
Schuette and Mike
Bedulskis each netted 12 while Jeff
Dirkin scored 11.
The Tars were just 9-of-25 from the field in the first half, but
the missed only nine shots in the second (20-29), finishing the day
53 percent (29-54) shooting. The Cowboys shot 43 percent (22-51).
Rollins outrebounded Bayamon 32-29 and forced 22 turnovers while
committing 14.
Dirkin gave Rollins a 5-2 lead with an early 3-pointer, but the
Cowboys answered with a 7-0 run and led 9-5 after five minutes of
play.
The Tars regained the lead and this time built a 16-9 advantage
after a Sam
Philpott triple midway through the half ,only to see Mayaguez
come back and snag a 17-16 advantage just four minutes later.
The game then saw five more ties and five lead changes the rest
of the half until a Joey
Galvis free throw put the Tars ahead 31-30 at intermission.
Bayamon scored the first two buckets of the second and the Tars
appeared to be locked in a close battle, but a Chris
Uhle 3-pointer and scores from Merton, Dirkin and Alex
Blessig put Rollins ahead for good.
It was just a three-point game with 14 minutes to play. Rollins
closed the book, however, with a scoring outburst and led 67-45
with 7:54 on the clock.
Bayamon would get no closer than 17 the rest of the night.
LAST MEETING VS. PR MAYAGUEZ (11/25/14): Alex
Blessig poured in 21 points to lead Rollins in a 76-62 victory
over the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Tuesday afternoon.
The win was the Tars' second straight and moves their record to
4-3 on the season while Mayaguez drops to 1-4.
Blessig was 7-of-8 from the field, including a 3-pointer, while
connecting on 6-of-7 from the stripe. Chris
Uhle posted 13 points and eight rebounds while Mike
Bedulskis added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Both teams were sluggish at the start with the score tied 14-14
after the first 10 minutes of play. Rollins then ran out to a 27-18
lead after a Scott
Schuette conventional 3-point play.
Mayaguez got as close as 29-26 late in the half with Rollins
ultimately taking a 37-29 lead into intermission.
Uhle hit a triple to start the second and the Tars were able to
keep the Tarzans at arms length, holding a 53-42 lead with 10:40 to
play. Mayaguez cut the advantage down to six twice in the final
seven minutes, getting as close as 62-56 with 4:45 left.
Jeff
Dirkin converted a layup on the next possession to start a 13-0
run and put the game away for the Tars. Bedulskis capped it off
with a jumper, giving Rollins a 73-56 with two minutes to play.
Rollins shot 55 percent (26-47) from the floor and held the
Tarzans to just 33 percent (20-59) shooting. The Tars won the
rebounding battle 38-32, but committed 23 turnovers while forcing
18.
NEXT UP FOR ROLLINS: The Tars will hit the
road, traveling to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Fans can listen to all the action live on the Geico Tars Sports
Network at RollinsSports.com.
