Eagles Lose Heartbreaker in Overtime

By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 24, 2015) – The FCSAA No. 5 Tallahassee Community College Eagles lost an overtime heartbreaker to Panhandle Conference foe No. 10 Pensacola State College 54-53 at home on Saturday night. 

The Eagles came into the game with an opportunity to move into a tie for second place in the Panhandle Conference but instead fell into fourth place at 2-4 in league play, one half game behind third-place Gulf Coast State College (2-3) and two games back of the second place Pirates (4-2).  

Tallahassee and Gulf Coast State will play in Panama City on Wednesday evening.

The Eagles jumped out to a early seven point lead in the first half before Pensacola started to inch their way back into the game.  That opening lead was the largest that the Eagles had in the game.

The game went back and forth all night with the Eagles taking a one-point lead (27-26) into halftime. 

The second half went the same as the first as each team battled to gain separation from the other.  Neither team led by more than four points and regulation ended in a 50-50 tie.

In overtime each team struggled shooting from the floor.  The only baskets made were from Pensacola State's Jamal Thomas.  After Thomas' first basket, Elmo Stephen was fouled and sent to the line and tied the game by hitting both free throws.

Later in the overtime period, Thomas again gave the Pirates the lead with another short range jumper.  Stephen had an opportunity to tie the game again on free throws but after making the first he failed to make the second.

Trailing by one the Eagles forced a turnover with seven seconds left.  After coming out of the timeout Tallahassee was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded. 

Rysheed Corbin led all scorers with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Jahvaughn Powell ended the game with 11 points.

Wednesday's game tips off at 8:30 p.m. eastern.