Tars Survive Overtime Thriller

SAINT LEO, Fla. (January 18, 2023) - For the second-straight game, the Rollins Tars found themselves needing extra time to determine a winner in their conference matchup. This time, however, they ended up on the winning side, outlasting their host, the Saint Leo Lions, by a score of 98-95. The Tars now sit at 8-9 on the year, with a 5-5 record in SSC play. Saint Leo drops to 13-7 overall and 5-5 in the SSC.

Rollins came out scorching hot from the tip. Hutton Yenor, Cade Long, and Kyle Marion all connected on their first shots to stake an early 7-3 lead. The lead would grow as high as seven at the first media timeout thanks to a pair of Sergey Grishaev free throws, making it 13-6. 

The Tars maintained a slim lead until the halfway point of the first half when the Lions took the lead on a three, 25-24. It was Grishaev again coming through for Rollins, this time knocking down back-to-back jumpers to help the Tars regain the advantage. Unfortunately, the other Tars struggled for a few minutes to score, which allowed Saint Leo to take control, and go up by as many as six points. A Brookes Kahlert three cut the lead in half, followed moments later by a Marion triple to give Rollins the edge once more. Marion added three free trows late in the half to make it 43-42 at the break. 

The Tars shot 17-27 (63%) from the floor in the first half, with 13 assists on the 17 makes. 

Saint Leo quickly took back the lead in the second half on five straight points from Kanon Koster. A Grishaev three, followed by a Yenor fast-break dunk shifted the momentum to the Tars; however, yet another triple from Koster tied the score right back up at 52. A quick little 6-0 run from the Tars gave them a two possession cushion at the first media timeout. The next nine points were awarded to the Lions with Koster and big man Marty Jackson leading the way. A Yenor three would tie things up at 61, and a pull-up jumper from Yenor would tie the game at 63 as well. 

Saint Leo would go on to take a sizeable lead, going up eight with four minutes to go. Rollins turned up the heat on defense, and also got back into their scoring groove over the next few minutes. Marion knocked down a pair of free throws, Yenor nailed an impossible turnaround jumper over a defender, and Grishaev splashed a triple to tie the score at 82 all with 1:39 to play. 

Koster would come through once again for the Lions, this time on a beautiful offensive set that allowed him an open look from the corner. His three gave Saint Leo the lead with under a minute to play. Rollins called timeout, and drew up a perfect play of their own that allowed Cade Long to get a wide open look and tie the score with 24 seconds to go. The Lions managed to get off two decent looks, but both rimmed out, and the game headed to over time tied at 85. 

The Lions took the lead early in the extra frame, but Marion answered with a triple to regain the lead for Rollins. Jackson converted a three-point play, but Matheus Silveira was able to answer back with a baby hook over Jackson to knot the score at 90. Moments later, Yenor cashed in on yet another improbable shot, this time fading to the side at the elbow and knocking it down to put the Tars up two. Saint Leo tied the score one final time on a Koster make, but free throws from Yenor and Grishaev late sealed the win for Rollins. 

Yenor finished the game with 27 points and six steals. Grishaev poured in 21 and grabbed seven rebounds. Marion scored 19 points and dished out six helpers, while Long finished with a doen points and six assists of his own. Koster had 29 points in the loss for Saint Leo. 

Rollins will host Southeastern at home on Friday night with a 7:00 pm tip at Warden Arena.