Omar Figueroa led the way with 23 points for the Rollins Tars on Wednesday night at Warden Arena but that was not the story of the night. The story of night was how Rollins did not score in the games first 6:37 and did not make a field goal until the 12:18 mark of the opening half. Rollins battled uphill the rest of the night and ultimately fell 71-65 to the Florida Tech Panthers. The loss dropped the Tars to 4-3 as they lost for the first time in five tries at Warden Arena this season. After an 0-4 start Florida Tech has now won four straight to even their record at 4-4 on the year. The Panthers are 1-1 in Sunshine State Conference play while the Tars fall to 0-2 in SSC action.
To say both teams got off to a slow start offensively would be an understatement. A 3-pointer by Ty Harpring of the Panthers were the first points of the game 1:55 seconds in. Noah Van Bibber had a tip-in to make it 5-0 in favor of the visitors at the first media timeout. Rollins finally got on the board as Marshall Klug hit three free throws at the 13:23 mark to make it a 5-3 game. A Mayson Quartbaum basket kept the Rollns deficit at four (9-5) with 12:18 until halftime. Rollins made a mini surge as Figueroa would hit back to back triples, the second knotting the game at 11 with 10:33 in the half. The Panthers would slowly pull away as they would lead by as many as 15 and take a 13 point lead (37-24) lead into the halftime break. Rollins shot 27.8 percent from the field, 23.1 percent (3-13) from the 3-point line, and a perfect 3-3 at the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes. The Panthers shot 46.9 percent from the field, 37.5 percent (6-16) from the 3-point line, and one of one at the free throw line in the opening stanza.
Rollins got off to solid start in the second half as the half opened with a technical foul on the Panthers. Jah Nze hit both free throws, before Klug and Renfro had baskets to make it a seven point Rollins deficit (37-30) early in the second half, The Panthers stopped the momentum as Harpring hit a pair of triples to stretch the lead back out to double figures. After falling down 15 the Tars went on another 6-0 run as Figueroa converted a layup to make it 55-46 at the 8:45 mark. Again, a 3-pointer by Florida Tech, this one by Brewer Nitcher restored a double digit lead. Down 14 with 6:08 to go Rollins started on the comeback trail again. a tip in by Renfo, followed by a trey by Figueroa and another by Nze made it a six point game (63-57) at the 3:39 mark. Rollins would get as close as four on a pair of Renfo free throws but that is as close as the Tars would get as Tech would do just enough to close out the road win.
Rollins was paced by Figueroa with 23, Renfro added 13, and Nze notched 10. Rollins shot 33.8 percent from the field, 28.6 percent (8-28) from the 3-point line, and 68.8 percent (11-16) at the free throw line. Rollins won the rebounding battle 43-35. They had 11 assists and 10 turnovers in the contest.
Florida Tech was led by Harpring with 17 points, Nitcher added 16, while both Greyson Williams and Darrius Ca'Sowell netted 11. The Panthers shot 48.1 percent from the field, 40.7 percent (11-27) from the 3-point line, and 52.6 percent (10-19) from the free throw line. They had 15 assists and 16 turnovers as a team.
Rollins will be back in action Saturday when they travel to Lakeland to take on Florida Southern. Tip time is slated for 4:30 PM.
Other SSC Scores Wednesday:
Embry-Riddle 102 Trinity 73 (Non-Conference)
Eckerd 88 Tampa 76
Florida Southern 101 Saint Leo 93
Palm Beach Atlantic 100 Lynn 65
Nova Southeastern 95 Barry 70
SSC Standings:
Nova Southeastern 2-0 (5-0)
Palm Beach Atlantic 2-0 (7-0)
Florida Southern 1-0 (7-1)
Embry-Riddle 1-0 (3-3)
Eckerd 1-1 (4-2)
Lynn 1-1 (4-2)
Barry 1-1 (4-3)
Florida Tech 1-1 (4-4)
Rollins 0-2 (4-3)
Tampa 0-2 (4-3)
Saint Leo 0-2 (3-4)
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