Last-second shot sends Trinity Valley past Tallahassee

PENSACOLA, Fla. (November 28, 2015) – Leon Gilmore knocked down a shot in the paint with 6.3 seconds left to give NJCAA No. 11 Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College a 71-70 win over NJCAA Region 8 No. 5 Tallahassee Community College on the final day of play at the Select Physical Therapy Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Pensacola State College.

Tallahassee dropped two of three games at the event and returns home with a 7-4 record.

In a game where neither team led by more than seven points, the outcome wasn't settled until the final seconds.

Daishon Smith's acrobatic shot gave Tallahassee a 70-69 lead with under a minute left in the game, and the Eagles forced a one-and-done on the defensive end when the Cardinals couldn't convert from the field.

On Tallahassee's ensuing possession, Rashad Lewis missed the front end of a one-and-one with 16 seconds left, giving the Cardinals the ball and the opportunity to win. With the clock under ten seconds Gilmore spun away from a defender near the top of the key, pulled up in the paint and knocked down the game-winning basket.

Smith had a desperation attempt at a three-pointer but it was off the mark as the buzzer sounded.

Smith finished with a team-high 23 points to lead Tallahassee. Stavian Allen came off the bench to deliver his best performance of the season, 16 points and nine rebounds, before fouling out with 3:32 left in the game.

Ryan Johnson finished with 10 points but fouled out for the second straight game. David Simmons added 11 points.

Tallahassee led 31-24 in the closing minutes of the first half before taking a 32-29 lead to the locker room. The Cardinals opened the second half on a 15-9 run to claim a 44-38 lead but Smith erased the Eagles' deficit with three-pointers on consecutive possessions.

Tallahassee continues its 10-game road trip on Thursday with a trip to Hillsborough Community College.