LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 21, 2019) – Rollins erased a seven-point halftime deficit and knocked off 25th-ranked Drury 72-67 Saturday in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
The win was a second-straight over a nationally ranked team for the Tars as they move to 7-3 on the season. Drury came into the game as one of just six unbeaten teams left in Division II and falls to 7-1.
Jakobi Bonner stayed hot for the Tars, leading the way with 23 points. Dayton Gumm added 18 and Trevor Recio tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Rollins shot just 38 percent in from the field but made good on 27-of-33 at the free throw line. The Panthers went 3-of-14 at the stripe and shot 43 percent. The Tars outrebounded DU 37-31 and also racked up seven blocks.
Asa Hutchinson scored 14 to pace Drury while Brandon Emmert and Isaac Johnson both netted 12.
Rollins built and maintained a lead through the first 15 minutes, going up 24-15 after a Gumm three-pointer 11 minutes in. Drury then outscored the Tars 22-6 the rest of the half and put Rollins down 37-30 at intermission.
The Tars trailed by as many as nine early in the second before slowly clawing back and taking a 59-56 lead on a Bonner three-point play with 4:47 left. The Panthers tied it up on the next possession, but a Brooks Cluxton three-point play got Rollins a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way. The Tars went 7-of-8 from the line in crunch time to hold off the Panthers and run their winning streak to three.
Rollins will meet the winner of Pittsburg State and Montana State-Billings in the championship game of the Holiday Hoops Classic on Sunday, December 22. Tip off is set for 3 p.m. eastern at South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans can catch the action live on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
