MELBOURNE, Fla. (February 27, 2020) – In a game that had absolutely everything, including nearly four hours from tipoff to buzzer, Rollins came out on top over Florida Tech with a big 94-92 double overtime win.
The game looked to be over in regulation, but Jakobi Bonner drove the length of the court in four seconds and tied the game at 74 to force overtime. In the extra frame, Kyle Marion drained a deep three-pointer to put Rollins ahead with four seconds to play, seemingly giving the Tars the win. However, Sesan Russell drew a foul while shooting a desperation three and made them all at the line to extended the game into double overtime.
Just 54 seconds into the next OT, Florida Tech's Derek Murphy slammed a dunk during a dead ball and snapped the rim off the backboard. FT crews took an hour and 45 minutes to replace the rim and the game picked back up just before midnight. The teams continued to trade baskets until a Dayton Gumm putback dunk with 26 seconds left put Rollins on top and proved to be the game winner.
The win moves Rollins to 14-13 overall and 8-11 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Tars will also be no worse than a seven seed in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament and could get as high as six with a win over Eckerd in the season finale and other help around the league.
Marion scored all of the Tars 14 points in the first overtime and went for a career-high 26 points in the game to lead Rollins. The freshman hit seven three points and also added six rebounds and two assists. Jakobi Bonner scored 20 points while Connor Mckim tallied 16 points and eight rebounds. Gumm netted 14 on the night.
Russell led Florida Tech (11-17, 5-15 SSC) with 27 points and nine rebounds. Murphy added 22 points and 15 rebounds while Nieja Nordan tallied 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Tars shot 41 percent with FT hitting 42 percent from the floor. Rollins was hot from deep with 14 three-pointers to nine by the Panthers. Tech won the glass, 48-39.
Rollins went up 16-6 over the first five minutes and led 27-13 with 8:27 left in the half. The Panthers came charging back at the end of the period and twice made it a one-possession game before a Gumm buzzer beater gave Rollins a 39-35 advantage at the half.
Neither team led by more than four over the first 15 minutes of the second until FT went on a 5-0 run and put the Tars down 71-62 with 4:22 to play. Rollins fought back and used a Gumm triple and Marion free throw to knot the score at 72 with 44 seconds on the clock. After a Tars foul, Russell split a pair at the line for a one-point FT lead, but the Tars were off the mark on their possession. The Tars quickly fouled Jordan who missed the first and got the second at the stripe. Bonner then took the inbound and raced up the court, gently lying the ball off the glass as the buzzer sounded.
Marion was on fire in the first overtime, going 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from deep. Trey Schaneville hit from deep for Tech with 14 seconds left to tie the score at 85. As the Panthers celebrated, Marion worked his way to the top of the key and hit a three-pointer of his own to get the Tars on top 88-85 with four seconds left. Rollins tried to foul and did so, but it was determined Russell was in the act of shooting and he calmly sank all tree to push the game to a second overtime.
The broken rim came with 4:56 to play in the second OT. After the lengthy delay and a five-minute warm-up, the game resumed.
Gumm tied the score with a layup at the 3:04 mark and Mckim gave the Tars a 92-90 lead with a pair of free throws at 2:12. Both teams were empty on the next possessions but a Murphy driving layup tied the score at 92 with 1:10 left.
In the final seconds, Marion tipped a pass away right to Connor Mckim, but he missed the breakaway layup. Gumm then came flying in and jammed the putbck to give Rollins the lead and ultimately the win.
Rollins is back on the road February 29, facing Eckerd in the regular season finale. Fans can catch the action live on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 M WPRK.
