Late Free Throws Sink Panthers, 73-67
By Space Coast Daily // January 10, 2014
NEXT HOME GAME TOMORROW AT 4 P.M.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The Panthers clawed their way back into the contest and tied the game three times in the final five minutes of action but late free throws by Rollins College (7-5, 2-1 SSC) allowed the Tars to sink Florida Tech (11-3, 1-2 SSC), 73-67, on Wednesday evening at the Clemente Center.
Jermaine Jackson’s eighth 20 or more points performance was not enough as the Tars shot 51 percent from the floor and 77 percent from the charity stripe. Jackson finished with 20 points and Chris Carter dished out seven assists and picked up three steals while Robert Booth and Isaac Spence combined for 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and 4-of-6 shooting.
A slow start offensively, Rollins led by as much as eight before a strong finish by the Panthers gave FIT a 31-29 advantage heading into the second half. Jermaine Jackson’s nine points and Booth’s four points and four rebounds highlighted the first half and defensively, FIT forced 12 turnovers on seven steals and one block. Florida Tech shot 39 percent from the floor while the Tars went 12-of-25 overall and 4-of-13 from three-point range.
Jermaine Jackson scored six of FIT’s first 10 points of the second half, highlighted by a lay-up off of Cameron Stahl’sdish with 14:55 left to play. The points gave the Panthers their second lead of the game and first since scoring the first two points of the contest. A close game down in the stretch, the Crimson and Gray and the Tars traded points before five unanswered points by RC gave Rollins a 62-57 lead with 5:49 remaining. Back-to-back and-one’s for FIT tied the contest at 62-63 with 4:12 remaining and at 64 with 3:34 left.
NEXT HOME GAME TOMORROW AT 4 P.M.
After a Rollins triple, Akeem Johnson’s and-one once again tied the contest, with just over two minutes remaining. Scoreless until 40.4 seconds left, a lay-up gave the Tars a 69-67 lead.
The Panthers host the University of Tampa on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m.
