Eagles rally for win in Barnes’ home finale

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 14, 2015) – The Tallahassee Community College Eagles sent retiring head coach Eddie Barnes out with a thrilling 74-70 victory over Gulf Coast State College on Saturday night in the veteran coach's final home game. 

The Eagles improved to 18-10 on the season and 4-7 in Panhandle Conference. Gulf Coast State dropped to 5-5 in league play but didn't lose any ground on second-place Pensacola State College, who fell at Northwest Florida State College. 

With Saturday's victory Barnes earned his 274^th victory at Tallahassee. He'll have an opportunity to reach 275 in Tuesday's regular season finale at Chipola College. 

Saturday's game served as a bookend of sorts for Barnes, who was victorious in the first game he ever coached inside the Bill Hebrock Eagledome, though he did it as the visiting coach. On November 22, 1991, Barnes' Wallace Community College-Dothan (Ala.) squad defeated Tallahassee, 80-79, in the Eagles' first-ever home game as a member of the NJCAA. 

More than 23 years ago, his team needed a buzzer-beater to get the win over the Eagles. On Saturday, the victory was equally dramatic as Tallahassee rallied from a 17-point, first-half deficit and outscored the Commodores by 19 (46-27) in the second half. 

Gulf Coast State shot lights out in the first half while the Eagles struggled from the floor. The result was a 43-28 lead at the half for the visitors. 

The second half was a different story. Tallahassee came out and played some of its most inspired ball of the season. A 21-6 run led to a 49-49 tie with 12:10 left in the game. 

The Commodores had one answer after another, eventually gaining a four-point lead but Tallahassee roared back one last time and eventually took the lead with 6:58 remaining on a pair of free throws by Norbertas Giga. 

Tallahassee never looked back and led by as many as six points inside the final minute. Gulf Coast State's Jon Wade provided one last bit of drama, hitting a three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to cut the Eagles' lead in half, 73-70. 

But Jahvaughn Powell hit one of two from the free throw line to make it a two-possession game and the Commodores' final shot attempt was off the mark at the buzzer. 

Dirk Williams had a team-high 25 points and also added seven rebounds for Tallahassee. 

There other players also scored in double figures – Cameron Smith, 14 points with nine rebounds; Powell had 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists; and Giga recorded 12 points and seven assists. 

Tuesday's game will tip at 8:30 p.m. eastern.