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Buzzer-beaten: Northwest Florida State escapes upset with clutch three as time expires

Buzzer-beaten: Northwest Florida State escapes upset with clutch three as time expires

By Brenden Martin
TCC Sports Information
@brendenmartin28

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 21, 2014) - The Tallahassee Community College Eagles lost an 87-84 heartbreaker on Tuesday evening when Northwest Florida State College's Farad Cobb hit a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer to cap an action-packed Panhandle Conference matchup.

Cobb's game-winner came moments after Tallahassee had tied the game at 84-all on a floater in the lane by Cameron Naylor.

Tallahassee (12-9, 1-4 PC) came into Tuesday's game looking for its second consecutive upset of an NJCAA Top 10 team. The Eagles are ranked No. 9 in the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll while Northwest Florida State (18-3, 3-2) is ranked No. 2 in the FCSAA and No. 7 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Top 25 Men's Poll.

After defeating the best team in the nation Chipola College by a large margin one week ago, the Eagles came into their game against Northwest Florida State with a high level of confidence and competitiveness. They were hungry for another win, but the Raiders made sure that it was not going to come easily.

The game was quick and up-tempo from the outset and remained that way through most of the night. Both teams were trying to wear each other down early and establish their own pace.

The fast tempo led to transition buckets and quick shots from behind the arc for Tallahassee as they hit five three-pointers in the first half. The Raiders were not able to make a single shot from downtown in the first half, contributing to the Eagles' eight point lead at the break 37-29.

Earvin Morris already had a double-digit night going for him at halftime as he scored ten points in the first 20 minutes. Marlon Johnson was the game's leading rebounder at the time with five boards.

Northwest Florida State was able to erase the small deficit early in the second half and managed to keep the game close as it went down to the wire. The teams traded baskets and neither team could gain a significant advantage over the other, as evidenced by the game's 13 ties and 11 lead changes.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, it was Cobb who made the crucial play at the buzzer, knocking down a three from the top of the key as the horn sounded to prevent Tallahassee from potentially picking up another key win in its attempt to climb the PC standings.

Three Eagles, Morris, Naylor and Duran Porter all scored in double figures. Johnson finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Porter pulled in seven boards as well.

Tallahassee is now in a position where it will have to grind to pull out some much-needed conference wins. The Eagles will get another opportunity on Saturday, January 25 as they go on the road to take on Pensacola State College.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. eastern.