SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University Men's basketball team had three players post 20+ points in a barn-burning Sunshine State Conference thriller, but Wednesday night was not meant to be for the Lions, as Rollins stunned the Green & Gold 98-95 at the Marion Bowman Activities Center.
 
Saint Leo (13-7, 5-5 SSC) shot 50.8% from the floor, but Rollins (8-9, 5-5 SSC) was shockingly better, hitting over 64% of its shots, the highest percentage allowed by the Lions this season.
 
Guard Kanon Koster led all scorers with 29 points and Fifth-Year forward Marty Jackson tallied 25 points, including an 8-for-9 performance from the field.  While the upperclassmen had big nights, perhaps the biggest storyline of the night was the breakout performance of Freshman guard Logan Ryan, who shot 7-for-11 including 6-for-9 long range to finish the night with a career high 20 points.
 
After Rollins pushed out to a seven-point lead (13-6) to start the contest, Saint Leo made up for the deficit and took its first lead midway through the first half off a 3-ptr. from Ryan, 25-24.  After taking its first lead, the Lions and the Tars exchanged baskets for the remainder of the half, with neither side leading by more than two possessions.  Heading into the locker room, it was Rollins who held a slim 43-42 lead.
 
Following a good layup from the Tars' Kyle Marion that gave Rollins a 58-52 lead, Saint Leo battled back once again to produce a 13-point turnaround that saw the Lions push a 73-66 lead at the 7:30 mark.
 
After Jackson knocked down both free throws with 4:35 remaining in regulation to give the Lions its largest lead of the night (82-74), the Tars took the next three minutes to score eight unanswered points to notch the score 82-82.
 
Koster hit a key 3-pointer in the final minute that Saint Leo thought would have been the game-winning shot before Rollins responded with their own long-range 3-ptr. on the ensuing possession.  The Green & Gold had the final possession and an opportunity to win the game before the Tars' defense made a stand that forced the game in overtime.
 
Even in the extra period, both Rollins and Saint Leo exchanged more points, until a controversial defensive foul by the Lions allowed the Tars' Hutton Yenor to hit 1-of-2 free throws for the go-ahead 96-95 lead with 23 seconds left.  Following a missed shot on the next Green & Gold possession, Rollins added two more good free throws before making one more stop to clinch a 98-95 win over the Lions.


 
Saint Leo is back on the court Saturday, looking to avenge a defeat at the hands of the Barry Buccaneers.  Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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