Georgia Highlands rallies late to down TCC

BARNESVILLE, Ga. (November 13, 2015) – NJCAA No. 10 Georgia Highlands College erased a six-point deficit in the closing minutes to defeat NJCAA Region 8 No. 5 Tallahassee Community College, 81-73, at the Georgia/Florida Shootout. 

Tallahassee, whose three-game win streak was snapped, fell to 4-2 on the season, with both losses coming at the hands of the Chargers, who improved to 5-1. 

After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, Tallahassee grinded its way back into the game and eventually took a six-point lead, 71-65, on Daishon Smith's basket with 6:05 left in the game, but Georgia Highlands closed on a 16-2 run to steal the victory. 

Smith finished with 12 points, one of four Eagles in double-figures, but shot only 3-of-13 from the floor, as did Ryan Johnson, who managed only seven points after averaging 29.5 points over his last two games. The duo shot a combined 2-of-15 from long distance and Tallahassee was only 5-of-27 as a team. 

David Simmons (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Deion Bute (10 points, 11 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles for the Eagles, who won the battle on the boards, 48-34. 

Darius Alexander added 16 points for Tallahassee. 

Tallahassee cut a 12-point deficit to just four (40-36) at the half then grabbed the momentum with a 13-0 run near the middle stages of the second stanza. Smith began the surge with a basket and Alexander capped things with a pair of free throws to put the Eagles in front 57-53 at the 12:19 mark of the second half. 

The lead grew to as much as seven (67-60) before the Chargers roared back. 

Tallahassee will continue play at 4 p.m. Saturday against host Gordon (Ga.) State College.