TAMPA, Fla. (January 7, 2023) – The Rollins Tars picked up a big conference road win on Saturday afternoon, taking down the Tampa Spartans by a score of 71-66. Rollins improves to 6-8 on the year, with a 3-4 record in SSC play.
Defense was the key in this one as Rollins limited Tampa to 31% (21-68) from the field, including just 28% (10-36) from three-point range.
It was a rough start for the Tars as Tampa jumped out to a 7-0 lead that extended all the way to the first media timeout.
John Latimer III hit a pair of free throws to put Rollins on the board, but the Tampa lead soon ballooned to 12-2. Minutes later, it reached as high as 21-9.
A 7-0 run sparked by
Cade Long's five points brought the Tars within five. Next up was
Hutton Yenor moments later, who scored seven straight points on two jumpers and a three, making the score 25-23. A handful of baskets were exchanged from there, leading to a 30-25 Tampa lead at half.
Another slow start out of the break from the Tars saw Tampa extend their lead back to double digits, 41-31, at the first media timeout.
Matheus Silveira and Latimer scored six points in less than a minute to help bring Rollins back into the game.
For the next few minutes, Tampa and Rollins exchanged baskets with the Spartans maintaining a three-possession lead. Two free throws and a dunk from Silveira, followed by a three from Yenor tied things up at 52 with 7:30 to go.
The two teams tied each other a number of times before Rollins took a four-point lead on a Long triple, going up 62-58. Tampa pulled within two with a minute to play, but Yenor nailed a huge three with 35 seconds left to give the Tars a two possession lead. Tampa missed a couple of attempts on their next two possessions, while
Cameron Corcoran was able to knock down a pair of free throws late to make a final of 71-65.
Yenor, playing for the first time since December 29, led the team with 19 points while adding six rebounds in 39 minutes. Long added 13 while three others … Latimer, Silveira and
Cody Potter … also scored in double digits.
Next up for Rollins is a home game against Lynn on Wednesday, January 11. Tipoff is 30 minutes after the end of the women's game.
