The Saint Leo Lions have had trouble with the Rollins Tars for several years. Saturday they needed an extra five minutes to get the job done, but Leo came out with a 57-54 win. The win for the Lions gave them 20 wins in 101 meetings with Rollins.
Saint Leo (10-5 2-2 SSC) won for the sixth time in the last seven tries overall. They were led by Edmunds Dukulis, who put up 16 points. Cale Girten continued his solid season from the 3-point line. Girten scored 11 points, including three 3-pointer's. He came into the game shooting 47 percent from the 3-point line on the season and went 3-4 on Saturday. The Lions shot 42 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line. The Lions were a solid 79 percent (15-19) at the foul line. They out rebounded the Tars 36-22. Saint Leo had 12 assists and 17 turnovers.
The Tars (7-7 0-3 SSC) also had a pair of players in double figures. Jeff Merton had a career high 16 points to go along with five rebounds. Chris Uhle added 13- to go along with six blocked shots. Jeff Dirkin chipped in eight.
Rollins shot 40 percent from the floor in the game. They made 7-22 3-pointer's (32 percent.) They shot 69 percent (9-13) at the free throw line. They had 16 assists and 12 turnovers.
Both teams showed from the get go why they are the top two defensive teams in the SSC. The Tars led for much of the first half. After a Jeff Merton 3-point play at the 5:59 mark they would lead 17-13. The Tars then went scoreless for the next five minutes and Leo scored the next seven points. A Mike Bedulskis runner with just under a minute remaining would make it 20-19 Lions at the half.
The first four minutes of the second half both teams also showed why they are the bottom two offensive teams in the conference. Merton would tie the game at 23 but then the Lions would go on another spurt and lead 29-23 a minute later.
The Tars would fight back and tie the game at 32 with just under 11 minutes to go. Then the see saw affair would see several ties and lead changes. After all was said and done the game would be tied seven times and the lead would change hands 11 before the end of regulation. The Tars looked to be in control with four minutes to go as a pair of Scott Schuette free throws would give them a 47-41 lead. Over the next 2:11 the Tars offense would go stagnant and the Lions would score on each of it's three straight trips to knot the game at 47 with 1:49 to go. Ron Foxx would hit a bucket to give the Lions the lead back but Merton would tie the game with a layup at the :49 mark. Foxx and Merton would again trade buckets and the score would be tied at 51 with 27 seconds to go in regulation. A jumper by Foxx to win it was off the mark, Crisosto got the rebound but his tip in was to late and the game headed into overtime.
Marcus Dewberry gave the Lions the lead to start the OT but a Uhle 3-pointer would give the Tars the lead right back. That would be only bucket of the overtime for Rollins. The difference would be four late free throws by the Lions to win it. Foxx hit a pair at the 1:25 mark to give the Lions a 55-54 lead. Girten would then hit the two free throws to account for the final score. The Tars had one last chance to tie it but Foxx got a steal off of a Blessig pass and the Lions would have a rare win in Winter Park.
The Tars will be back in action Wednesday when they close out this five game home stand. Nova Southeastern will be the opponent. Tip time is set for 7:30.
Other SSC scores:
Tampa 85 Florida Tech 66
Florida Southern 77 Nova Southeastern 74
Barry 83 Palm Beach Atlantic 66
Lynn 71 Eckerd 67 (OT)
SSC Standings:
Lynn 4-0 (10-2)
Barry 3-0 (11-1)
Florida Southern 2-1 (13-1)
St.Leo 2-2 (10-5)
Eckerd 2-2 (8-5)
Tampa 2-2 (8-5)
Nova Southeastern 1-3 (5-7)
Florida Tech 0-3 (10-4)
Rollins 0-3 (7-7)
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