MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men's basketball) – In their first contest with new head coach Chase Campbell, the Paine College Lions men's basketball went on the road to open their season against Rollins College in the Sunshine State Conference vs Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tip Off Classic in Melbourne, Fla. The Lions came close to a win but were defeated by the Tars in game one of the classic, 95-87.

During the first half, Paine traded points with the Rollins and even tied the game with 1:13 left when Denzel Dillingham hit a three pointed to knot the score at 39. A costly technical team foul at the :54 mark sent the Tars, James Ferrell, the line where he made both shots, 41-39. Jeff Merton would set the halftime score at 45-41, when he nailed a three pointer with :19 left.

Donald Quarles would come out in the second half and get the Lions started with a paint layup at the 19:33 mark, 45-41. Ferrell answered back for Rollins with 18:40 left  when he made a layup of his own, 47-41. The Tars stretched their lead to 11 points with 16:46 left in the game, 57-46. Paine began to chip away at the lead and eventually took it when Reginal Shuford kissed the ball off the glass at the 12:26 mark to make the score, 58-57. The Lions largest lead would be five points before the Tars found a way to battle back, capitalize on fouls, and take the game.

The Lions were led by Denzel Dillingham with 21 points. Kaderious Compton and Yusef Riley each finished the game with 11 points. Dillingham and Arnis Libazs were the leading rebounders for Paine with six apiece. Patrick Petty kept the table set for the Lions with six assists. Riley and Arnold Okechukwu finished the night with a block each. Christian Nobles had a nose for the ball as he accounted for four steals.

As a team, Paine finished the night with 42 rebounds, 14 assists, 12 steals, and two blocks. The Lions were 39.5 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from three point range, and 68 percent from the free throw line.

Rollins was led  by Sharif Almulla with 24 points and Alex Blessig with 18 points. Merton, Mike Beldulskis, and Daniel Loh tied for most rebounds as each accounted for seven. The assist leader for the Tars was Ferrell with six. Merton also had a game- and team-high three blocks for Rollins. Blessig finished the games with four steals.

Collectively, the Tar finished the game with 41 rebounds, 18 assists, seven steals, and four blocks. Rollins was 47.2 percent from the field, 33.3 percent behind the arc, and 88.1 percent from the free throw line.

Paine plays the final day of the SSC vs. SIAC Tip Off Classic against Florida Institute of Technology on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.