BLAZERS FALL 61-60 TO ROLLINS

Lusane scores 25 in loss

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - Craig Reichel's three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner as Rollins defeated Valdosta State 61-60 in the first round of the NCAA South Regional Saturday afternoon at the McChesney Student Activity Center.

Richard Lusane posted VSU (20-9) to a 60-58 advantage with three free throws with 1:59 remaining in the game before both teams missed a pair of jumpers. Isaac Codrey gave the Tars (25-6) back with 33 seconds on a defensive rebound and drove to the basket, drawing the Blazer defenders with him. His kick out found a wide-open Reichel on the left wing for the game winning shot.

The first half of the game saw four lead changes and five ties as neither team led by more than seven in the half. Rollins scored 12 of the first 17 point in the game. After Valdosta State's Devario Hudson opened the game with a free throw, Reibel hit a three and Reichel a jumper to give RC a 5-1 lead. Richard Lusane wrapped a pair of jumper around a Codrey lay-up to cut the VSU deficit back to two, but Reibel added a jumper and three to give Rollins a 12-5 advantage with 13:56 remaining in the first half.

The Blazers responded by scoring the next nine points to go up 14-12. Hudson started the run with a baseline jumper before Lusane scored five straight on a three and a jumper. Matt Kuhns gave VSU the lead with a lay-up with 11:47 remaining.

Neither team led by more than four the rest of the half as Valdosta State claimed a 31-30 lead at the intermission.

The first 10 minutes of the second half continued the even battle before the Blazers claimed its biggest lead of the game with a 9-3 spurt. Trailing 45-44, Herman Burge put VSU on top with a three from the top of the key before Lusane scored on a lay-up. Kevin Hogan responded with a three, but Jamahl Stokes hit back-to-back jumper to post VSU to a 53-48 lead.

Rollins went up four in the closing moments of the game, only to have Lusane hit a three and the three free throws in the last two and a half minutes to put VSU up 60-58.

Lusane led Valdosta State with 25 points while Stokes finished with 10. Hudson registered 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the game while Burge finished with nine points and six assists. The Blazers hit 23-of-55 field goals (41.8 percent) and owned a 40-29 advantage in rebounds in the contest.

Reibel scored 25 to lead Rollins while Hogan tallied 14. The Tars hit 46.2 percent of their field goal attempts (46.2 percent) and registered six steals on 13 VSU turnovers.

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