WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 15, 2023) - For thirty-four minutes, the matchup between Rollins and Saint Leo was physical, intense, and tightly matched. However, a late run from the Lions vaulted them past the Tars en route to a 89-75 win. The loss drops Rollins to 12-13 on the year and 8-9 in the SSC.
The first half of the game saw the two teams trade the lead seven times in a close contest. It took seven minutes for the first media timeout to be called. In that time frame, all five Tars starters scored, but they trailed 13-12 at the horn.
Matheus Silveira established dominance down low with four points early, but Saint Leo's Marty Jackson was quick to respond in the paint. It was then
John Latimer III's turn to come off the bench and provide a spark for the Tars with a pull-up jumper, a fast-break layup, and a three to put Rollins up 19-15.
After Saint Leo tied the game up at 25,
Jaden Frazier stepped up for the Tars with six points in three possessions to reclaim the lead. Moments later, a
Cameron Corcoran three off a feed from Latimer gave Rollins a 34-29 lead, their largest of the half. In the final two minutes of action, Kanon Koster scored eight straight points for the Lions, who took a 42-41 lead into the half.
The Lions dominated the start of the second half, growing a lead as high as 59-48 with 15 minutes to play. Again, Latimer led a comeback for Rollins, forcing a steal and an and-one layup to make the score 66-64 with nine minutes to play.
Hutton Yenor would knock down a jumper on the next possession to tie the game at 66. After 90 seconds of no points from either side, with the crowd getting louder by the minute, and absolute monster slam from Silveira put the Tars ahead, 68-66.
Saint Leo was unfazed, scoring the next eight points of the game, and holding Rollins scoreless for two minutes. Koster again showed his touch on his shots, knocking down a three to go up nine with 2:30 to go. Yenor had a steal and a dunk, and also a late three-pointer, but it wasn't enough as Rollins fell to the Lions 89-75.
Yenor led the team with 17 points, and also added five rebounds, two blocks, and three steals. Latimer went for 16 points on 6-6 shooting with seven rebounds.
Next up for Rollins is a home match against Eckerd on Saturday. Tipoff will follow the women's game, is tentatively scheduled for a 4:30 tip.
