Lack of Offense, Rebounds Doom Tars in Loss.

Many would say that Wednesday night's must win game for the Rollins Tars was a microcosm of the entire season.  In the end it was a loss that they trailed in for 38 of the 40 minutes. Florida Tech came out a 61-48 winner in Winter Park.  With the loss Florida Tech punched its ticket to next week's Sunshine State Conference tournament, while the Tars will not make the annual tournament for the first time in recent memory.
  The Panthers (15-12 5-10 SSC) completed the season sweep of the Tars. The Jackson's (not related) combined for 37 of the Panthers 61 points.  Corbin tallied a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds- while Jermaine had 21.  Jordan Majors added 11.  The Panthers shot 39 percent (22-56) from the floor.  They shot 33 percent (7-21) from the 3-point line.  Tech shot 67 percent (10-15) from the free throw line.  The Panthers pounded the Tars on the boards 51-28.  They had 16 assists and 18 turnovers.
  The Tars (9-18 2-13 SSC) were led by Jeff Merton who had 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds- Alex Blessig, Jeff Dirkin- and- Joey Galvis each had eight.  The Tars struggled shooting all night long.  They shot 33 percent (19-57) from the field in this one.  Rollins shot just 20 percent (6-30) from the 3-point line.  The Tars also had a rough night at the foul line where they shot 36 percent (4-11.)  They had 14 assists and 14 turnovers.
  The Panthers got off to a quick start and led 17-4 in the early stages of the opening half.  The Tars would have a couple chances in the opening half to cut the Panthers deficit to single digits but would miss on a pair of one and ones in the last two minutes. The Panthers would take a 28-17 lead into halftime. Things got worse for the Tars at the end of the half when Sharif Almulla went down to an injury and did not return the rest of the way. On a night when the Tars only scored 48 points they sorely missed Almulla's 10.4 a game after he got hurt.
  The second half was more of the same.  The Panthers would lead by as many as 19 before the Tars would mount a bit of a comeback. Rollins would get to within seven twice but could not complete the comeback. After a Dirkin steal the Tars would not be able to get any closer as Dirkin missed another front end.  The Panthers would close the deal at the free throw line.
  Saturday will be the finale for the Tars in this campaign to forget.  They will take on the top ranked Moccassins of Florida Southern.  Three seniors (Jeff Dirkin, Scott Schuette and Chris Uhle) will be honored on senior day prior to what will be the final game of the careers of all three in a Tars uniform.
Other SSC Scores:
Barry 86 Lynn 69
Florida Southern 87 Tampa 79
Saint Leo 67 Eckerd 63
SSC Standings:
Florida Southern 14-1 (26-1)
Barry 13-2 (22-3)
Lynn 10-5 (18-7)
Tampa 9-6 (17-9)
Nova Southeastern 6-9 (11-14)
Florida Tech 5-10 (15-12)
Saint Leo 5-10 (13-14)
Eckerd 4-12 (11-15)
Rollins 2-13 (9-18)