#TCCBasketball vs. Gulf Coast State Preview

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 6, 2018) – Tallahassee Community College's men's and women's basketball teams begin Panhandle Conference play on Saturday evening with a doubleheader at Gulf Coast State College. 

The women's game tips at 6:30 p.m. eastern while the men are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. Both games can be seen live online courtesy of GCTV. 

Women's Preview

Saturday's game is a top-5 national matchup, the first in school history for unbeaten and No. 4 Tallahassee (15-0), and although top-ranked Gulf Coast State suffered its first loss of the season on December 29 against No. 2 Shelton (Ala.) State Community College, that did little to diminish the importance of tonight's game. 

Why? 

No. 5 Northwest Florida State College and No. 10 Pensacola State College, who also square off on Saturday, are unbeaten as well. Chipola College, who is idle, is ranked 16^th. So, with only two berths available to the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Tournament in March, each of the 12 Panhandle Conference games carries added significance. 

Men's Preview 

Tallahassee got back on track with hard fought victories against Palm Beach State College and East Mississippi Community College in last week's Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic. After a 10-0 start yielded a No. 4 national ranking, the injury bug hit and the Eagles dropped three of four heading into the holiday break. 

With the opportunity to heal thanks to a 14-day layoff, guards Javien Williams and C.J. Fisher returned to the lineup last week, as did big man Chris Agbo, who had been inactive since Nov. 20. With a roster that's as healthy as it's been all season, the Eagles are ready to embark on a third straight postseason berth. 

Tallahassee vs. Gulf Coast State Women's Capsule 

• Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. eastern
• How to follow: Live stats | Live video | Twitter @TCCeagles
• Records: Tallahassee (15-0, 0-0 PC), Gulf Coast State (12-1, 0-0)
• Rankings: Tallahassee (NJCAA No. 4, Region 8 No. 2); Gulf Coast State (NJCAA No. 1, Region 8 No. 1)
• Head-to-head: Gulf Coast State leads 59-9
• At Gulf Coast State: Gulf Coast State leads 29-2
• Streak: 3 by Gulf Coast State
• Last meeting: Gulf Coast State 99, Tallahassee 69 (3/10/17 at Ocala, Fla.)
• Miscellaneous: Tallahassee is 2-17 all-time vs. No.1 but both wins have been against Gulf Coast State, including last season's 89-78 win in the teams' first meeting.

Tallahassee vs. Gulf Coast State Men's Capsule 

• Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. eastern
• How to follow: Live stats | Live video | Twitter @TCCeagles
• Records: Tallahassee (13-3, 0-0 PC), Gulf Coast State (14-3, 0-0)
• Rankings: Tallahassee (NJCAA No. 25, Region 8 No. 5); Gulf Coast State (Region 8 No. 9)
• Head-to-head: Tallahassee leads 57-22
• At Gulf Coast State: Tallahassee leads 25-14
• Streak: 3 by Tallahassee
• Last meeting: Tallahassee 80, Gulf Coast State 71 (2/14/17 at Tallahassee, Fla.)
• Miscellaneous: Saturday will be the Eagles' 258^th game all-time as a nationally-ranked team. Their first, on January 16, 1992, was against Gulf Coast State (a 111-107 loss) and Saturday marks the 29^th such game against the Commodores, the second-most against any opponent. A nationally-ranked Tallahassee team is 24-4 when playing Gulf Coast State.