Eagles take charge late to down Gulf Coast State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 19, 2016) – NJCAA Region 8 No. 5 Tallahassee Community College outscored No. 8 Gulf Coast State College 27-14 over the final 11 minutes en route to a 74-61 win on Tuesday evening in Panhandle Conference men's basketball action. 

Tallahassee (15-8, 4-1 PC) now owns a two-game lead over third place Gulf Coast State (15-8, 2-3) in the PC standings and pulled to within a half game of first-place Northwest Florida State College. 

The Eagles led 40-28 at the intermission but Gulf Coast State opened the second half on a 19-7 run and pulled into a 47-all tie courtesy of Jeremy Harris' basket with 11:08 left in the game. 

Tallahassee had an answer, however. 

The Eagles scored the next six points, including a three-pointer from Daishon Smith to regain control and a 53-47 lead. The Commodores got as close as three (53-50) but Tallahassee all but put the game away with a 10-2 run over a three-minute stretch in the waning minutes. Austin Grimes capped the surge with a basket at the 5:05 mark to give the Eagles a 63-52 lead. 

Three players scored in double-figures for Tallahassee, led by David Simmons with 18. Smith added 16 and DamiAnn Prehay came off the bench to score 10. Prehay finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

Harris scored 19 for Gulf Coast State to lead all scorers. He also had 12 rebounds. 

After five ties and five lead changes during the first ten minutes of the game, Tallahassee outscored Gulf Coast State 14-4 over a span of 5:29 to surge to a 33-23 lead. 

Prehay's basket with 1:11 left in the half gave Tallahassee a 40-26 lead, its largest of the night. 

Tallahassee will hit the road for its next two games, beginning with Saturday's trip to Pensacola State College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. eastern.