Late Rally Snaps Skid for Tars!

The Rollins College Tars (8-3) had not lost four games in a row since 2005 and this group of players made sure to keep it that way with a late rally in the consolation game of the 37th annual Winter Park Rotary Tangerine Tourney. Dave Diakite hit a back door lay up with 24 seconds left that would prove to be the game winner in a 57-55 win over California (PA) (6-6).  Myk Brown was the only Rollins player in double figures Friday as he tallied 19 points, Jeremy Sharpe added nine and Ian Scott eight for the Tars. The Tars shot 37 percent from the field and continued to struggle from the 3-point line where they were 4-20. The Tars did shoot 84 percent (21-25) at the foul line.
 Cal (PA) had three players tally double figures. Chad Tipton was one rebound short of a double-double for the Vulcans with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Keith Lowe added 12 and was named to the All-Tournament team. Quentin Harding rounded out the double digit scorers with ten for the Vulcans. Cal shot 35 percent from the field in the game and was 6 of 18 (33 percent) from the 3-point line. They shot 77 percent (17-22) from the free throw line. The Vulcans dominated the boards 38-24 but had trouble taking care of the ball with 21 turnovers to go along with just nine assists.
 It would be the Vulcans who would jump out to an 18-7 lead in the first 11 minutes against the cold shooting Tars. Rollins would fight back and cut the lead to five (31-26) at halftime.
 The Tars would come out with renewed energy in the second half and would take a 38-36 lead with 10:45 to go. The game would go back and forth for the next several minutes until Cal would go on a 7-0 run to take a 53-46 lead with 4:22 in the game. It looked as if the Tars were well on their  way to a fourth straight defeat but this team would not be denied on this day. Cal would not hit a field goal the rest of the way and the Tars would get some big buckets from Dave Diakite and Jeremy Sharpe, along with a pair of clutch free throws by Scott Schuette who ran the team for the last 2:25 after Ian Scott fouled out.  Myk Brown (Rollins), Nate Tait (Lake Erie), Rich Austin (Lake Erie), Gavin Field (West Georgia), and Da'Ron Simms were named to the All_Tournament team. Simms was the Tangerine Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. West Georgia (13-1) survived a scare, but defeated Lake Erie (5-5) for the tournament title 58-56.
 Rollins will be back in action Wednesday night when they host the Sailfish on Palm Beach Atlantic. Tip time is set for 7 PM, as always you can listen on 91.5 Fm WPRK Winter Park and worldwide on Rollins Sports.TV