It had been over a year since the Rollins College Tars had hit the hardwood, but Tuesday night the Tars finally got to do so at Jenkins Field House in the opening round of the SSC Tournament. Rollins(0-1) got a career high 32 points from Hutton Yenor, but it was not quite enough in a 88-82 loss in the SSC Quarterfinals.
Yenor knocked down six 3-pointer's on his way to the 32 point evening- Kyle Marion added 20- and- Brooks Cluxton tallied 11 points- 14 rebounds- and- six assists.
Southern (6-4) was led by 33 points and 11 rebounds from Jaylon Hinton- Brandon Carroll knocked down four triples on his way to 21 points. The Mocs also saw EJ Damberville (17 points- and- 15 rebounds-) as well as Xavier Rhodes (11 points- 13 assists) tally double-doubles on the night.
The Mocs would jump out to an early lead in this one behind some solid 3-point shooting. It was 29-14 Mocs seven and a half minutes in. Rollins would get to within four (34-30) as Marion, and Yenor would knock down triples, and a layup by Joey Glynn made it 34-30 at the seven minute mark of the opening stanza. A pair of Carroll 3-pointer's stretched the FSC lead to 11, before a Yenor 55 footer cut the lead to single digits (50-42) at the intermission.
The Mocs shot a sizzling 59 percent from the field- and- 53 percent (8-15) from the 3-point line. They shot just three free throws in the opening half, making two of them.
The Tars shot 40 percent from the field- 50 percent from the 3-point line (8-16) and- went a perfect six of six from the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes.
Rollins started off the second half, going three and a half minutes without a field goal. With 13 minutes to go the Mocs held a 64-48 advantage. The Tars went nine of nine at the free throw line during one stretch to cut the lead to four (67-63) with 9:21 remaining. Yenor would go on a personal 7-0 run to get the Tars to within one (71-70) after his 3-ball at the 7:15 mark. The Mocs would take control with a 6-0 run, and the Tars would not get closer than five the rest of the way.
Florida Southern will advance to take on top seed Palm Beach Atlantic in the SSC Semifinals Thursday.
For the game Rollins shot 36 percent from the field- 44 percent (12-27) from the 3-point line- and- went a school record 22 of 22 at the free throw line. The Tars had 15 assists- and- 10 turnovers as a team.
The Mocs shot 54 percent from the field- 46 percent (11-24) from the 3-point line- and- 56 percent (5-9) from the free throw line. The Mocs won the rebounding battle 40-37. They had 26 assists- and- 12 turnovers as a team.
