MBK: After fast start, Eagles come up short against Northwest Florida State in 76-70 loss

By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information

NICEVILLE, Fla. (January 21, 2015) – The Tallahassee Community College men lost to Panhandle Conference opponent Northwest Florida State College, 76-70, on Wednesday night in men's basketball action. 

The loss dropped the Eagles (16-6) to 2-3 in PC, one-game behind second place Pensacola State College, who knocked off Chipola College on Wednesday. 

Tallahassee jumped out to an early eight-point lead to start the game. As part of the run, Elmo Stephen hit a big three-pointer from the corner to cap the opening 8-0 run. 

With 16:20 left in the first half, the Raiders ended the run with a three-pointer of their own. 

After Northwest Florida State tied the game at eight, the game went back and forth with each team matching one another.  With the game tied at 22-all, the Raiders pulled out to a 12-point lead off the shooting of Xavier Moon.  Moon had back-to-back three-pointers on the run and a third to cap things off. 

Tallahassee was able to cut into the deficit before the break and entered halftime down 41-34. 

Tallahassee came out after halftime starting where they left off as Stephen knocked down a three-pointer to cut the Raiders' lead to four.  Later, Norbertas Giga nailed a three-pointer from the top of the arc and the Eagles eventually tied the game off a Northwest Florida State turnover with 15:24 left in the game.  

But the Raiders quickly retook the lead and never relinquished it the rest of the night, although the Eagles were within striking distance in the final seconds. 

Stephen, tonight's TCC Eagle of the Game, finished with 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting and 5-of-7 from behind the three-point line, his third 30-point game of the season. 

Stavian Allen led Tallahassee with 10 rebounds. 

The Eagles will return home to take on Pensacola State College on Saturday, January 24.  The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 p.m. at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome.