Tars Win Conference Opener, Lose Clark.

The Rollins Tars and Florida Southern Moccasins renewed one of the oldest rivalries in college basketball Monday night. Tom Klusman and his coaching staff warned his team that the Mocs 1--4 record coming in was very misleading.  The task for the Tars got tougher when Deion Clark hit the floor hard on his arm/wrist and he would not return.  The Tars would prevail 102-91 over the Mocs in this one. It was the third consecutive win for Rollins in a series that has been owned by the Mocs in the past.  It was the conference opener for the defending tri- champs.
  Rollins (4-1 1-0 SSC) had five players score in double figures in the game.  Sam Philpott paced the Tars with 21 points in 26 minutes- Eric Castenada was outstanding coming off the bench after the Clark injury. Castaneda had a career high 19 points- picked up five steals and dished out four assists.  Jeff Merton scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half-  Connor McKim would add career highs in points (16) and assists (7.)  Jack Fleming would round out the double digit scorers with 10 points in his 14 minutes of action.  Rollins shot a sizzling 54 percent as a team- they were even better from the 3-point line where they shot 58 percent (11-19-)  from the free throw line the Tars were outstanding, shooting 87 percent (27-31.)  The Tars had 24 assists and 14 turnovers.  The 14 turnovers only cost them nine points.
  The Mocs (1-5 1-1 SSC) got a career day from Michael Volovic who drained seven 3-pointers en route to his 32 points-  Brett Hanson added 16- while Jack Rauch tallied a double-double (12 points and 12 rebounds.)  Tyler Ross added 10 in the losing effort.  The Mocs shot 50 percent as a team- they shot 45 percent (13-29) from the 3-point line.  The Mocs were solid at the free throw line where they shot 80 percent (16-20.)  FSC won the rebounding battle 34-28.  They had 19 assists and 21 turnovers.  The 21 turnovers cost the Mocs 33 points.
  The game started with both teams scorching the nets in the early going. The Mocs would hit six of the first seven shots they attempted. While the Tars would hit five of the first seven shots they attempted.  After a pair of Merton free throws the game was knotted at 14 five minutes in.  Six minutes into the contest on the drive to the basket Clark hit the floor hard (in the hand, wrist area) and he would not return.  The Tars would go on a run though and after a Philpott 3-pointer would open up a 10 point lead (34-24.)  The Tars would extend the lead to 16 (44-28) on a layup by Philpott at the 7:24 mark of the half.  The Mocs would no go away though, as they would get to within four late in the half before a pic of Castaneda free throws gave Rollins a six point advantage (55-49) at the intermission.
  The Tars would come out and play solid basketball in the early stages of the second half.  At the 11:37 mark they would have a nine point lead (73-64.)  A 9-0 Rollins run would stretch the lead to 11 (79-68.)  The Mocs would get as close as seven, but Castaneda and McKim would nail free throws down the stretch to put this one away.
  Rollins will have a quick turnaround, as they will play Thomas College (GA) on Wednesday at 2 PM. You can catch the game on the Geico Tars Sports Network at 91.5 FM WPRK and also you can see live video of the contest on RollinsSports.com.