Down to the Wire: Eagle Men take a tough loss at home in OT

By Brenden Martin
TCC Sports Information
@brendenmartin28

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 7, 2014) – Forty minutes wasn't enough to settle Tuesday's Panhandle Conference home opener as the Tallahassee Community College Eagles fell to Pensacola State College 68-64 in overtime.

Tallahassee came into Tuesday's PC with an overall record of 11-6 and looking to rebound from a six-point loss to Northwest Florida State College on Saturday.

The No. 5 Eagles took on a Pensacola State team that is ranked No. 9 in the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll and entered with a 12-7 overall record. Like the Eagles, Pensacola State was also 0-1 in the Panhandle Conference before Tuesday night's game.

Things were neck-and-neck in the first half as the teams traded blows. Several Eagles were able to produce in all areas of the game, and Elmo Stephen was the team's leading scorer at halftime with nine points.

Cameron Dozier had seven points and Marlon Johnson had six. Feeding his teammates the ball, Eric Nottage had three assists at halftime, all contributing to Tallahassee's 30-27 lead heading into the locker room.

The physicality continued into the second half. Both teams were more focused on driving and taking the ball to the rim. The game remained close as time continued to tick away, neither team able to gain an edge.

With 15 seconds left in regulation, Dozier was fouled on a long three-pointer that he drained to tie the game. Unfortunately, he could not convert on the free throw which would have given Tallahassee the lead. Regulation ended just as it had begun, all tied up. The game went into overtime all knotted at 56.

The lead changed hands more than once in the intense five minutes of overtime. The fouls would eventually take their toll and Pensacola State would not miss from the line. The Eagles fell to the Pirates by a score of 68-64.

Dozier led the team with 15 points, right behind him was Earvin Morris with 13 and Cameron Naylor with 12. Naylor also had seven rebounds.

Tallahassee drops to a record of 11-7 and will try to right the ship in conference play going forward.

The Eagles will hit the road on Saturday as they take on Gulf Coast State College at 8:30 p.m. EST.