Photo courtesy of Phil Kelly
Photo courtesy of Phil Kelly

Tallahassee cruises past Pensacola State for 18th win

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 6, 2016) – There's a new leader atop the Panhandle Conference standings. 

Region 8 No. 5 Tallahassee Community College's men's basketball team won its third straight game on Saturday, defeating Pensacola State College, 64-51, and moved into sole possession of first place in the PC standings at 7-2. 

The Eagles (18-9) have a half-game lead on idle Northwest Florida State, who is 6-2 in league play. 

Saturday's game was never in doubt. 

Tallahassee scored the first nine points and held Pensacola State scoreless for five-plus minutes to start the game.

Near the midway point of the first half and leading 14-8, Rashad Lewis' three-pointer started a 15-0 run that ended with a basket from Deion Bute and a 29-8 lead at the 7:20 mark. 

Tallahassee eventually led by as many as 26 (36-10) before taking a 36-18 lead to the intermission. 

Pensacola State made things interesting in the second half, getting to within 10 (54-44) on Kani Coles' bucket with 6:20 remaining in the game, but the Eagles followed with an 8-0 run to put the game away. 

Back-to-back three-pointers from Ryan Johnson extended Tallahassee's lead to 60-44, and Daishon Smith added a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a 62-44 advantage with 4:32 left in the game. 

Johnson scored a team-high 13 points to lead Tallahassee. Smith finished with four points, 10 rebounds and six assists. 

Jahvaughn Powell added 11 points and David Simmons, 10. 

Tallahassee will travel to Gulf Coast State College on Wednesday for an 8:30 p.m. eastern date with the Commodores.