First place, postseason implications on the line when NWF State visits on Tuesday

Read TCC student Jonathan Farris' preview on tonight's Tallahassee-NWF State doubleheader

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 1, 2016) – When Tallahassee Community College hosts Northwest Florida State College on Tuesday, both games of the teams' Panhandle Conference basketball doubleheader will carry significant meaning. 

The winner of the 5:30 p.m. women's game will have sole possession of third place in the league standings and a leg up on the race for the PC's third and final postseason berth. Even more is at stake a couple hours later. 

When the men tip at 7:30 p.m., first place in the PC will be on the line. Northwest Florida State (6-1) will take the floor all alone atop the league standings, but Tallahassee (5-2) sits just one game back and can pull into a tie with a victory. 

Both games can be seen online at TCCeagles.com. 

The Eagle men, ranked fifth in the Region 8 Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll, control their own destiny in the Panhandle Conference as a result of Northwest Florida State's overtime loss at home on Saturday to last-place Chipola College – the Raiders' first home loss of the season. Now it's Tallahassee's turn to try and protect an unblemished home record.  

The Eagles (9-0) have yet to lose at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome under first-year head coach Mark White, and they close the season with three of their last five games at home. A successful defense of the home floor on Tuesday would pull Tallahassee into a first-place tie with Northwest Florida State heading into the final four games of the season and a second straight home game on Saturday against Pensacola State College.

When the teams met in Niceville on January 16, Tallahassee, who leads the Panhandle Conference and is tied for 13^th nationally in three-point field goals (219), endured its worst shooting performance of the season from long distance. The Eagles hit just 3-of-21 three-pointers against the Raiders, yet the game was tied (67-67) entering the final four minutes. Northwest Florida State, however, closed on a 14-5 run and pulled away for an 81-72 victory, its 14^th straight against Tallahassee.

The Eagle women are looking to snap an even longer stretch of futility against Northwest Florida State in Tuesday's opener. The Raiders' current win streak in the series is just three, but they have won 20 of 23 overall against Tallahassee.

Northwest Florida State hasn't won since defeating Tallahassee in come-from-behind fashion, 70-64 in mid-January. The Eagles are just 1-2 since but are still very much alive for a postseason berth.

The PC's No. 3 seed in next month's NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Basketball Tournament has become a three-team race. Tallahassee and Northwest Florida State are both 2-5 in PC play and one game ahead of Pensacola State College (1-6).

Tuesday's winner will be all alone in third place and can retain slim hopes of catching second place Chipola. Meanwhile, the loser will fall a game off the pace and see its lead over Pensacola State shrink to a half game, pending the outcome of the Pirates' game with Chipola on Wednesday.

Tallahassee vs. Northwest Florida State Women's Capsule

• Tipoff: 5:30 p.m.
• Broadcast Info: http://tcceagles.com/multimedia/Tallahassee_Eagles_Live
• Records: Tallahassee (13-11, 2-5), Northwest Florida State (16-7, 2-5)
• Rankings: Tallahassee (Region 8 No. 6), Northwest Florida State (Region 8 No. 4, NJCAA No. 16)
• Head-to-Head: Northwest Florida State leads, 49-19
• In Tallahassee: Northwest Florida State leads, 22-11
• Current streak: Northwest Florida State has won three in a row (20 of 23 overall)
• This season: Northwest Florida State 70, Tallahassee 64 (1/16/16)

Tallahassee vs. Northwest Florida State Men's Capsule

• Tipoff: 7:30 p.m.
• Broadcast Info: http://tcceagles.com/multimedia/Tallahassee_Eagles_Live
• Records: Tallahassee (16-9, 5-2), Northwest Florida State (20-3, 6-1)
• Rankings: Tallahassee (Region 8 No. 5), Northwest Florida State (Region 8 No. 1, NJCAA No. 5)
• Head-to-Head: Northwest Florida State leads, 38-36
• In Tallahassee: Tallahassee leads, 22-14
• Current streak: Northwest Florida State has won 13 in a row
• This season: Northwest Florida State 81, Tallahassee 72 (1/16/16)