WINTER PARK, Fla. – In a pivotal Sunshine State Conference contest, the Saint Leo University Men's basketball team unloaded its scoring attack on Rollins, taming the Tars 89-75 Wednesday night at Warden Arena.
 
Saint Leo (19-9, 10-7 SSC) was able to even the score against Rollins (12-13, 8-9 SSC) and clinch a spot in the Sunshine State Conference tournament.  Despite allowing over 56% of shots from the field to the Tars, the Lions excelled in other areas that played key parts in the team's win.  The Green & Gold shot 51.5% from the floor and went 12-for-12 from the charity stripe.  Defensively, the Lions forced 21 turnovers, including 13 steals, and limited Rollins to under 32% long range.
 
Guard Kanon Koster had one night to remember, not only hitting a career-high 35 points but also reaching 1,000 points scored in his collegiate career.  The Kearney, Neb. native was perfect (10-for-10) from the line.
 
Fifth-year Forward Marty Jackson also had a monster game, dropping 29 points from shooting 61% from the floor with five boards and three steals.
 
The first half of play was eerily similar to both teams' meeting earlier in the season, as neither team led by more than two possessions with seven lead changes before the Lions took a 42-41 halftime lead in the locker room.
 
An early second half build would push the Lions' lead to double digits (59-48) at the 15:24 mark before Rollins came back to erase the deficit with a 20-7 scoring that saw the Tars retake the lead 68-66 with 6:47 remaining.
 
Following Rollins' go-ahead basket, Freshman guard Trey Lane's steal-and-score produced an And1 that would not only put the Lions ahead 69-68 but give the Green & Gold the lead for good for the rest of the contest.
 
Ironically, the last 6:09 of the game saw Lions finished off the Tars on a 20-7 run, pushing a lead as large as 17 (89-72) with seconds left before solidifying the 89-75 win.
 
"Monster performances by Kanon and Marty; both hit huge late baskets for us and Kanon's free-throws were clutch" said Head Coach Lance Randall.  "Our freshmen were dynamite on defense, especially in the second half; Logan Ryan and Owen Pawlikowski did a terrific job on (Rollins') Hutton Yenor.  Trey and Jared Coomer came up with some big rebounds, loose balls, and steals."
 
The Lions return to the hardwood floor Saturday in another SSC road contest against Lynn, with tipoff scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
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