The Rollins College Tars (13-15 7-13 SSC) were not sure that they had done enough to qualify for the SSC tournament when they ended the regular season on Wednesday against Nova Southeastern. Three scenarios had to happen that determined the Tars fate. First Palm Beach Atlantic had to beat Tampa, that was never in doubt. Then Rollins needed Lynn to beat Florida Tech which they did. The final piece of the puzzle, Rollins needed Barry to beat Eckerd and that is exactly what happened. By virtue of a win against Florida Southern earlier in the season (the third seed in the tournament) Rollins won the tiebreaker over Eckerd. Ironically since that win over the Mocs, Rollins has lost five straight. You can catch all the action of the SSC Quarterfinal from Rick Case Arena (3/3) on 91.5 FM WPRK and round the world on RollinsSports.com with Jim "Shooter" Ferro on the call. Tip time is slated for 7:30 PM.
Last time out Rollins lost 75-69 to these very same Sharks. NSU scored the games final seven points to secure the win. Jah Nze led three Tars in double figures with 14 points while both Cheo James and Ryan Renfro tallied 11. Rollins shot 43.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent (7-21) from the 3-point line, and 75 percent (18-24) at the free throw line in the loss. In the first meeting on 1/10 Rollins lost to then #3 Nova Southeastern 91-73. Ricky Ghedini scored 16, Omar Figueroa had 15, and Jackson Gaffney scored 11. Since that meeting both Figueroa and Gaffney have been lost to injury by the Tars. Rollins scores 81.5 points per game (8th SSC) while they give up 76.6 points per contest (2nd SSC.) They shoot 46.7 percent from the floor (5th SSC) and 35 percent from the 3-point line (6th SSC.) The 74 percent that they shoot from the free throw line is good for 4th in the SSC. Rollins is -2.21 in turnover margin (8th SSC) and +1.20 in assist to turnover ratio (5th SSC.) They also dish out an SSC 5th best 16.68 assists per night. On defense the Tars are fourth in field goal percentage defense in the conference (44.2 percent) as well as 4th at guarding the 3-point line (32.2 percent.) On the glass Rollins gets seven (38.6-31.6) more rebounds than the opposition. They block 2.7 shots per game (9th SSC) and get 7.14 steals per game (8th SSC.) Nze (17.7 points per game for 6th SSC) and Figueroa (16.6 points per game good for 8th SSC) are leading the team in scoring. Ghedini and Matus Malovec share the team lead in rebounds per game with 5.0 per contest while Figueroa is shooting 46.9 percent from the field (9th SSC,) 42.4 percent from the 3-point line (3rd SSC,) 79.3 percent from the free throw line (10th SSC,) 2.8 triples per night (4th SSC,) 2.9 assists per game which leads the team, a 1.8 assist to turnover ratio (10th SSC,) 1.7 steals per game (5th SSC,) and 31.4 minutes played per game (8th SSC.) Renfro blocks a team leading 0.8 shots per game, and Nze gets 1.5 steals per game (8th SSC.)
NSU has won 100 straight games at home and come in with a 24-1 record and 19-1 in the SSC. They are the top team in the country and have won 18 straight. The latest victim was Florida Southern by a score of 92-73 on Saturday. Ross Reeves led five Sharks in double figures with 24 points, Dallas Graziani had 19 to go with six assists, Jaxon Nap netted 16, Ryan Davis added 15 to go with 10 rebounds, while Eli Allen scored 10 to go with 10 rebounds. In the first meeting with Rollins in January Graziani and Reeves each had 23, Bobby Rosenberger scored 14, and Nap added 10. The Sharks shot 49.2 percent from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point line (7-20) and 74.3 percent (26-35) from the free throw line in the 18 point win. In the six point win last week Graziani poured in 35 points, Reeves got 14, and Davis netted 11. The Sharks shot 39.7 percent from the field, 14.3 percent (4-28) from the 3-point line, and 65 percent (13-20) at the free throw line. NSU scores 102.2 points per game which leads the country, while they give up 76.8 points per game (3rd SSC.) NSU shoots 49.6 percent from the field (2nd SSC,) while they shoot a league leading 37.7 percent from the 3-point line The Sharks shoot 72.9 percent from the free throw line (5th SSC) as well. They lead the country in turnover margin (+10.3) and assist to turnover ratio (2.08.) They also lead the SSC in assists (19.88 per night.) They are holding the opposition to 42.5 percent shooting from the field (2nd SSC) and 31.1 percent from the 3-point line (also 2nd SSC.) They are getting 5.7 (43.0-37.3) more rebounds than the opposition which is 4th in the SSC. They block 2.6 shots per game (10th SSC) and get 12.2 steals per game (4th SSC.) Reeves leads the SSC putting up 23 points per game which is seventh in the country, Graziani gets 20.3 points per game, Nap scores 13.9 per night, and Bennett Kayser rounds out the double digit scorers at 10 per contest. Nap grabs 8.2 rebounds per game which is 5th in the SSC, while Reeves and Graziani are 5th and 7th respectively in field goal percentage. Graziani leads the SSC with the 5th best assists number in the country (6.3 per night.) His 151 assists are 12th most in the nation. He also leads the SSC in assist to turnover ratio (3.3.) Graziani gets 2.4 steals per game which is also tops in the conference. The 35 minutes Graziani averages per game is 2nd in the SSC as well.
The line presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: NSU by 17
Other SSC Quarterfinal Lines (presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:)
#5 Tampa +3.5 @ #4 Barry
#7 Lynn +8.5 @ #2 Palm Beach Atlantic
#6 Embry-Riddle +6.5 @ #3 Florida Southern
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