MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (January 3, 2024) - A back-and-forth affair that features eleven lead changes went in the favor of Rollins on Wednesday as they defeated Barry 77-75. The win snaps a six-game losing streak for the Tars, who now stand at 4-8 overall, and 1-4 in the SSC. The Buccaneers fall to 7-5 and 0-4 in the SSC.
The first minutes of the game belonged to Barry as they scored the first eight points of the game, and had a lead as high as ten points.
Kyle Marion started a comeback at the 13-minute mark with a layup, followed by makes from
Sergey Grishaev and
Cody Potter to make the score 14-12. Just a minute later, back-to-back triples from Grishaev gave Rollins an 18-17 lead.
Next up was a game of ping-pong on the scoreboard as the two teams swapped leads five times in the next four minutes. A
Dylan Wolle three around the two-minute mark tied the game at 32, but Barry scored four straight to hold a two possession lead. However, Potter connected on his third three of the half to close out the first with a score of 36-35.
Rollins had one of their best shooting halves of the year in the first, knocking down 8-16 three-point attempts.
The beginning of the second half was much of the same as the two teams matched each other blow for blow. Neither team held a lead of more than two possessions for the first ten minutes of the half. The Bucs did manage to grow a 61-53 lead at the nine-minute mark, the highest of the second half.
Jaden Frazier converted a three-point play, followed by threes from Wolle and Potter to bring the Tars back to one shot, down just 65-62. The Tars then retook the lead with layups from
Braxton Barnhizer and
Matheus Silveira.
Moments later, with Barry up one, Potter knocked down his fifth three of the game to give Rollins a two-point lead. The Tars would extend the lead with some solid free throw shooting.
Cade Long and Silveira each connected on clutch shots with less than 90 seconds to go. The Bucs had a chance to take a lead late, but their last three rimmed out with seven seconds to go. A Grishaev free throw with three seconds to go iced the 77-75 win for the Tars.
Silveira posted a double-double in this one, scoring 17 with 11 rebounds. Potter added 16 off the bench. Barnhizer and Wolle also reached double digit scoring, while Long led the team with five assists.
Next up for Rollins is another SSC road match, this time in st. Petersburg against the Eckerd Tritons. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 6.
