Upcoming Match-up:
Rollins (6-3) vs. No. 25 Drury (7-0)
Saturday, December 21 | 3 p.m. ET
South Points Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada
Rollins vs. Pittsburg State or Montana State-Billings
Sunday, December 22 | 3 p.m. ET
South Points Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada
Coverage:
LISTEN: RollinsSportsLive.com | 91.5 FM WPRK
LIVE STATS: SportsTours.net
Set-up: After beating the nation's top-ranked team on Saturday, Rollins is riding high heading to the South Points Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas December 21-22. The Tars will meet 25th-ranked Drury to open play and then face either Pittsburg State or Montana State-Billings in the second round. Tom Klusman's squad is coming together, having beat Tampa and then No. 1 Nova Southeastern in the last two games. The win over NSU is an early-season signature victory for the Tars, who are playing their last nonconference games of the season while in Vegas. Drury is one of just six undefeated teams left in the nation and is beating teams by 15 points a game. The winner of the Tars and Panthers will play the winner of Pittsburg State and Montana State-Billings on Sunday in the tournament finale. The Gorillas are 4-3 on the year while the Yellow Jackets are 4-4.
Tracking the Tars: Rollins is led by reigning Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week Jakob Bonner. The senior is putting gup 16.4 points a game, shooting 49 percent from the field and 87 percent at the line. Hutton Yenor is getting 12.2 points a game and Dayton Gumm averages 11.9. Trevor Recio is the top rebounder at 7.3 a night. The Tars are shooting 49 percent from the field on the season and averaging 78.3 points a game while allowing 75.2 a night.
Tracking the Panthers: Drury ranks 41st in the country in defense, surrendering just 67.7 points a game,. The Panthers are putting up 82.7 on offense. Cal Hartley leads the way with 16.4 a game while Conley Garrison averages 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds a night. Asa Hutchinson is putting up 11 a game. The Panthers are one of the toughest teams in the country to turnover, sitting 12th nationally in turnover margin at plus-six. They also are forcing 18 opponents miscues a game.
Notes:
- Rollins and Drury have met only one other time with the Tars winning 88-76 on December 18, 2007 in Las Vegas. Jonny Reibel scored 31 points in that game to lead the Tars while Nick Wolf posted 19 points and 16 rebounds.
- Rollins is 1-0 against Pittsburg State, beating the Gorillas 67-56 at the 2000 Disney Tip off Tournament.
- Rollins has never played Montana State Billings in men's basketball
- Tom Klusman, in his 40th season leading Rollins, has the 12th most victories (709) of active college coaches, all divisions. He ranks third among active Division II coaches in total wins and ninth all-time.
Next up: The Tars are off for winter recess and will be back in action on Thursday, January 2, hosting Saint Leo in Sunshine State Conference play. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Warden Arena. Fans can follow the Tars all season long on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
