Who would have believed it was possible halfway thru this wild season? The Rollins Tars were 8-8 and 1-5 in the SSC back in January. After Tuesday night's 72-68 win over the host Alabama Huntsville Chargers on there home floor at Spragins Hall the seventh seeded Rollins Tars are headed to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls,South Dakota. With the win the Tars have now won 11 straight- and- they can now add 2017 South Region Champs to the trophy case inside the Alfond Sports Center in Winter Park. That after winning the Sunshine State Conference Tournament just over a week ago. The Tars are going to the Elite Eight for just the second time in school history. The only other trip was in 2003-04 season.
Jeff Merton was named the Tournament's MOP (Most Outstanding Player) scoring 20 points to pace the Tars (24-10-) Sam Philpott added 14- while Connor McKim had nine to go along with four assists. Nils Lehmann set the tone with five early points and scored seven in the contest- while Joey Galvis had seven points- five rebounds- four assists- and- five steals.
Rollins shot 46 percent from the field- 40 percent (10-25) from the 3-point line- and- 71 percent (12-17) from the free throw line. The Tars edged Huntsville on the boards 35-34. They had 15 assists and 12 turnovers as a team.
The Chargers (27-7) had a six game win streak snapped in this one as they were denied a trip to the Elite Eight on there home floor by a Sunshine State opponent for the second straight season. A year ago the Chargers fell to Barry. Brandon Roberts and Seab Webster each scored 18 to pace the Chargers- while Troy Saxton scored 13.
UAH shot 37 percent as a team in this one. They shot 31 percent (12-39) from the 3-point line. At the free throw line the Chargers shot 72 percent (18-25.) They had 13 assists and 13 turnovers as a team.
The game began with Webster knocking down a 3-pointer for the Chargers before the Tars went on a quick 7-0 run. Rollins would regain the lead 9-8 after a Lehmann layup. That would be the score at the first media timeout of the opening half. After the two teams traded baskets the Tars would go on a 9-0 run to take a 20-10 lead after a Jack Fleming 3-pointer at the 11:02 mark. The Chargers would answer with the next seven points before another Fleming 3-pointer would get the Rollins lead back to six (23-17.) The Tars would get the lead out to nine (33-24) after a Philpott free throw before the Chargers would get the capacity crowd back into it to end the half. Roberts would score the next seven points, and UAH would take a one point lead (34-33) after a Webster 3-pointer at the 2:02 mark of the opening half. They would lead by six late in the half before Jakobi Bonner would hit a pair of free throws for Rollins with .8 seconds in the half to cut the lead to four (40-36.)
Rollins would come out with a purpose in the second half and score the first seven points of the frame. Galvis who sat the last 11 plus minutes of the opening half with two fouls drained a 3-pointer to give Rollins a 43-40 lead with 17:39 to go. The two teams would go back and forth until Merton hit a 3-pointer at the 10:23 mark to give Rollins a 55-51 lead. The Tars would lead by 10 (66-56) a little more than four minutes later after a Philpott 3-pointer. The Chargers would not go away as they would pull to within two (66-64) after a Roberts free throw. After Webster split a pair of free throws with 1:02 to go it was a one point game. The Tars came out of a timeout and Brad Ash, Kyle Frakes, Tom Klusman and grad assistant James Ferrell drew up a set play that worked to perfection to get Merton a backdoor layup and a three point lead (68-65) with 44 seconds left. Roberts was long on what would have been the game timing 3-pointer with 22 seconds to go and Rollins secured the rebound. After making the first of two free throws with 10 seconds left Eric Castenada rebounded his own miss and drained the next two free throws. Saxon hit a 3-pointer to trim the lead to three for UAH. After missing the first of two free throws he had to intentionally miss the second. Castaneda rebounded the miss and spit a pair of free throws as the Tars walked away with a 72-68 win and the celebration began.
Philpott and Merton both were named to the All-Tournament Team. Joining them on the All Tournament team was Webster, Saxton and Roberts from UAH.
The pairings for the NCAA Elite Eight will be announced Wednesday after the conclusion of the East Region.
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