After a quick 9-0 start to the season the Rollins Tars have hit a rough patch the last two games. Friday for the first time this season they looked like the team that was picked to finish ninth in the SSC. It was going to be hard enough for the Tars in this one when the season began. It got even tougher when Alex Blessig broke his finger and could not go. All these things added up in Las Vegas Friday night to a 73-51 loss to Tarleton State in the opening game of the South Point Holiday Classic.
The Texans improved to 9-1 on the season. They were led by Michael Hardge who scored a game high 21 points. Charles Hill scored 18- and leading scorer on the season E.J Reed added a double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds.) The Texans shot 44 percent as a team in this one. They were 7-25 (28 percent from the 3-point line.) Free throw shooting was not strong for the Texans as they shot 56 percent (14-25.) On the other hand they dominated the glass, out rebounding Rollins 44-30. The Texans had 12 assists and turned it over 17 times.
#16 Rollins (9-2) really struggled offensively in this one. Only one player (Sam Philpott 13 points would tally double figures in scoring.) He was followed closely by Mike Bedulskis (eight points.) Jeff Merton also scored eight but struggled for the second straight game before fouling out with 10:03 to go. Merton, the Tars second leading scorer at 15.3 a game would only mange to play 21 minutes Friday. The Tars struggled in all facets, especially shooting on Friday night. They shot 35 percent from the floor, went 5-20 (25 percent) from the 3-point line- and the top free throw shooting team in the nation shot just 61 percent (14-23) from the free throw line. The Tars had just seven assists and turned the ball over 21 times in the loss.
The game would get off to a decent start for the Tars. The two teams would trade baskets in the early going and Rollins would lead 11-9 just over six minutes in. The game would stay highly contested the rest of the opening half before the Texans would close the half with a 19-6 run in the last 8:50 to open up a 16 point lead (37-21) at the intermission.
The Texans would keep the lead at 17 five minutes into the second stanza. The Tars would get to within 13, but that is as close as they would get on this night.
The Tars will look to get back on the winning track Saturday when they conclude the South Point Holiday Classic against #6 Angelo State. Tip time for tomorrow's contest is set for 2 PM. You can catch all the action on the Geico Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
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