 Media Credit: rollinssports.com SENIORS!: Zach Pancratz, Chauncey Gibbs, Kevin Hogan and Craig Reichel pose for a photograph.
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The Rollins College men's basketball team took top-seeded Florida Southern to overtime in the Sunshine State Conference Championship Game in Fort Lauderdale on March 8 before falling 77-76. Earlier that week in Warden Arena, the Tars had cruised by seventh-seeded Saint Leo 71-47 before bettering host team Nova Southeastern 75-67 in the semifinal round. Following the loss to Florida Southern, the Tars learned they would be left out of the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament despite a strong resume. For the 2008-09 season, Rollins managed twenty wins, including a quality win over Division I University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a 10-6 SSC record, and a one-point overtime loss to the Florida Southern Mocs in the Blue Cross lue Shield of Florida Conference Championship Game. The Mocs were selected for the NCAA South Tournament as the top seed. Forward Zach Pancratz (Class of 2009) explained, "When the game ended we thought that even though we lost we were still going to make the NCAA tourney. Losing to the region's number one seed in overtime and also beating them earlier in the year, we thought was good enough to deserve one of the top eight spots. So when the selections came and we were left out it killed us to know that our season was over, especially after the hard fought game that we just played. There is still no doubt in my mind that we were one of the top eight teams in the region. I would put us up against anyone in a heartbeat."
Despite the loss, the team was pleased with its performance against a strong Florida Southern team. The Tars and the Mocs battled throughout the season for first place in the SSC and the game on March 8 was no different; the two teams traded the lead six times in the first half alone. Although the Mocs had an eight point advantage at halftime, Rollins was ahead or close in several key statistics. Florida Southern shot 41.4 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from behind the arc, while Rollins shot 40.7 and 25; both teams were perfect from the free throw line. The Mocs' bench did outscore the Rollins bench 14-2, but the Tars led in the paint 14-10, which was unusual for a team that had relied on outside shooting. The Tars were hurt by nine turnovers, on which the Mocs scored 11 points. Rollins failed to capitalize on Florida Southern's five turnovers.
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