Maybe it's because the trip is right after finals. Perhaps the players feel less pressure with no school at the time. For whatever reason the Rollins Tars love playing in Las Vegas. This year is no exception. Playing for the first time in 13 days Rollins was a 73-67 winner over Saint Martin's in the Las Vegas Dixie Challenge at the Orleans Arena.
The Tars (5-4 0-1 SSC) were led by four players in double figures on the night. Jeff Dirkin scored 13 points on 5- of- 8 shooting for the game. Scott Schuette also had 13 to go along with five assists in 35 minutes of action. The senior from Lexington Catholic was 5- of-14 in the victory. Alex Blessig just missed a double-double as well. The transfer from Florida Gulf Coast scored 12 points and dished out nine assists. Mike Bedulskis provided a spark for the Tars when they needed it most. Scoring 11 of Rollins first 12 points to start the second half.
Rollins shot 45 percent from the floor on the night. They shot 32 percent (8-25) from the 3-point line. They shot 63 percent (15-24) from the free throw line. After coming into the game at - 5.1 rebounds per contest the Tars and Saints each gathered 38 rebounds. The Tars had 19 assists and turned the ball over 12 times.
Saint Martin's (3-7) had three players score in double- double. The Saints were led by a double-double (18 points and 14 rebounds) from Tyler Idowu. Tyler Copp scored 16- and- Trey Ingram netted 10 in the loss.
The Saints shot 37 percent from the floor for the game. They shot 31 percent (8-26) from the 3-point line. The Saints shot 94 percent (15-16) from the free throw line. They had 13 assists and 12 turnovers.
Both teams would come out having trouble scoring but it would be the Tars who would score the game's first seven points after the first five minutes. After a pair of Idowu free throws the Tars would jump out to a 11 point lead (13-2) after a Schuette lay up. The Tar lead would remain at 12 (20-8) after a Schuette jumper at the 7:54 mark of the opening half. The Saints would battle back and cut the lead to two (28-26) after a Isaac Bianchini 3-pointer at the 1:16 mark. Sam Phillpott would convert a big 3-point play giving the Tars a five point lead at the half (31-26.)
The Saints would score the first four points of the half and cut the Rollins lead to one (31-30.) After a pair of Bedulskis free throws a Will Bond 3-pointer would knot the game at 33. The Tars would then grab a pair of five point leads. The last being at 40-35 (all by Bedulskis.) The Saints would not go away though. A 7-0 run capped by another Bond 3-pointer would make it 42-40 at the 10:50 mark. At the 9:43 mark the Saints would take what was the largest lead of the game (46-42.) Rollins would bounce back and take the 47-46 lead after a big Blessig 3-pointer. at the 8:29 mark. After the game was knotted at 48 the Tars would score the next five. It would be 53-48 after a Schuette layup at the 6:50 mark. Once again Saint Martin's would fight back. Copp would hit a pair of free throws to give the Saints a one point lead (57-56) with 3:41 to go. Dirkin would give the Tars the lead back on a 3-pointer at the 3:05 mark (60-57.) A pair of free throws would get the Saints to within one at the 2:57 mark but that is as close as they would get. The Tars would lead by as many as nine before securing the 73-67 win.
Rollins will be right back at it Thursday. The Tars will battle the Falcons of Seattle Pacific at the Orleans Arena. Tip time is set for 5:30 PM. You can catch all the action on the Geico Tars Sports Network at 91.5 FM WPRK and worldwide at RollinsSports.com
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