Tars Travel To Tampa For Critical SSC Matchup

 The Rollins College Tars (13-11 7-9 SSC) travel to Tampa to take on the University of Tampa Spartans (12-10 6-9 SSC) in a critical SSC matchup. Tip time is slated for 4 PM Saturday (2/14) from the Bob Martinez Center. Robert Segal and Jim "Shooter" Ferro will be on the call on 91.5 FM WPRK Winter Park and on RollinsSports.com 

 Rollins is coming off a 71-66 loss to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday. Jah Nze (21 points) and Ricky Ghedini (15 points) scored in double figures in the loss. Rollins shot 42.1 percent from the field, 36.7 percent (11-30) from the 3-point line, and 63.6 percent (7-11) from the free throw line in a losing cause. Rollins scores 82.1 points per game (8th SSC) while they allow 75 points per night (2nd SSC.) The Tars shoot 46.6 percent from the field (4th SSC,) 35.4 percent from the 3-point line (5th SSC,) and 73.9 percent from the free throw line (3rd SSC.) They have a -1.46 turnover margin (7th SSC) and 1.30 assist to turnover ratio (6th SSC.) They also average 17.3 assists per game (5th SSC.) The opposition shoots 32.3 percent against the Rollins defense (3rd SSC,) they get 7.2 (39-31.8) more rebounds than the opposition (2nd SSC,) Rollins blocks 2.8 shots per game (9th SSC) and gets 7.3 steals per night (6th SSC.) Nze scores 17 points per game (7th SSC) while Omar Figueroa (16.1 points per contest) is 8th in the SSC. Matus Malovec (5.2 rebounds per game) leads the Tars on the glass, Figueroa shoots 47.2 percent from the field (8th SSC,) 43 percent from the 3-point line (3rd SSC,) 78.7 percent from the free throw line (9th SSC,) knocks down 2.7 triples per contest (6th SSC,) dishes out a team leading 3.1 assists per game, has a 1.8 assist to turnover ratio (10th SSC,) gets 1.7 steals per game (tied 4th SSC,) while he plays 30.8 minutes per game (8th SSC.) Marshall Klug shoots 91.2 percent at the free throw line (2nd SSC,) Nze gets 1.7 steals per game (tied 4th SSC) and plays 30.1 minutes per game (10th SSC.) 

 Tampa is coming off a 98-93 win at Barry on Wednesday night. Ryan Blount led five Spartans in double figures with 21 points, Trey Lane added 19, Camden McCormick notched 17, Trent Scott tallied 16, and Justin Taylor netted 10. UT shot 58.6 percent from the field, 47.8 percent (11-23) from the 3-point line, and 59.4 percent (19-32) at the free throw line in the win. Tampa scores 87 points per game (3rd SSC) while they allow 83.7 points per night (10th SSC.) The Spartans shoot 46.6 percent from field (5th SSC,) 35.3 percent from the 3-point line (6th SSC,) and 68.7 percent from the free throw line (8th SSC.) They are +1.00 in turnover margin (3rd SSC) and have a 1.53 assist to turnover ratio (4th SSC.) The Spartans dish out 19.4 assists per game (4th SSC) as well. UT is fifth at guarding the 3-point line (34.3 percent) and -0.2 (37.1-37.3) on the glass (9th SSC.) They block 3.55 shots per game (6th SSC) and get 8.3 steals per game (3rd SSC.) Blount scores 20.5 points per game (2nd SSC) and pulls down 7.6 rebounds per night (6th SSC.) Lane gets 15.2 per contest, Blount also shoots 47.8 percent from the field (7th SSC) and 41.3 percent from the 3-point line (5th SSC) to go with 82.6 percent from the free throw line (7th SSC.) His 2.8 triples per contest are third in the SSC. Blount also leads the team in assists (3.3,) and steals (1.4.) 

In the first meeting Rollins won 84-78 back in December. Nze poured in 27 points, Figueroa notched 18, Ryan Renfro tallied 11, and Mayson Quartlebaum chipped in 10. The Tars shot 50 percent from the field, 30 percent (6-20) from the 3-point line, and 87.5 percent (28-32) from the free throw line in the victory. 

 Tampa was led by Blount with 26 while Lane was the only other Spartan in double figures with 22. UT shot 42.4 percent from the field, 37 percent (10-27) from the 3-point line, and 60 percent (18-30) at the free throw line. 

The line presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: Tampa by 1.5 

Other SSC Lines (also presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:) 

Nova Southeastern -19.5 @ Florida Tech 

Saint Leo +7 @ Barry 

Florida Southern +2.5 @ Embry-Riddle 

Eckerd +11..5 @ Palm Beach Atlantic 

SSC Standings: 

Nova Southeastern 14-1 (19-1) 

Palm Beach Atlantic 12-4 (20-4) 

Florida Southern 10-5 (18-7) 

Embry-Riddle 8-7 (11-11) 

Barry 7-8 (12-11) 

Rollins 7-9 (13-11) 

Lynn 7-9 (12-11) 

Tampa 6-9 (12-10) 

Eckerd 6-10 (12-11) 

Florida Tech 6-10 (10-14) 

Saint Leo 2-13 (7-16)