SAN JUAN, P.R. (December 20, 2024) - Men's basketball improved to 6-5 on the season following their 83-63 win over Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras on Friday night.
The gameplan was simple for the Tars ... attack the paint. Rollins used their size advantage to dominate in the restricted area, scoring 46 of their total points from close range. The first four made shots from the floor came on a variety of dunks and layups as the Tars jumped out to an early lead.
An 8-0 run about seven minutes into the game gave the Tars a nice cushion that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Dylan Wolle provided a spark off the bench in the first half, knocking down a couple of jumpers for seven points in the first.
The Tar lead would grow as high as 13 points at 30-17 before settling at 33-23 at halftime.
Rollins knocked down 50% of ther threes in the first half, and shot 42% overall from the floor. Meanwhile, the Tar defense limited Rio Piedras to 5-25 (20%) shooting.
The Gallitos came out strong in the second half, and pulled within seven points before the first media timeout. However, Rollins went back to their bread-and-butter, working the ball into the paint. At one point, they converted three layups in a minute's time. Soon after, the lead was back to double digits, where it would remain.
The Tars were scorching hot in the second half, scoring 50 points on 21-32 (66%) shooting from the floor. Seventeen of their 22 attempts from two-point range were good. The remainder of the game did not provide any drama as Rollins cruised to a 83-63 win.
Emilis Butkus was the top scorer with 16 points. Four other Tars ...
Sergey Grishaev,
Beau Frericks,
Dylan Wolle, and
William Jobe ... scored in double digits. The team assisted on 24 of 32 made field goals.
Rollins will play one more game in Puerto Rico on Sunday, December 22 against Bayamon, who they defeated in Winter Park on November 27, 83-55.
