Eagles head to Panama City in search of postseason berth

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 10, 2016) – The calendar says February 10 but for Tallahassee Community College head men's basketball coach Mark White, it might as well read March – as in March Madness. 

Tallahassee's first-year coach is asking his teams to approach Wednesday's game at Gulf Coast State College as if it's the first game of the postseason, and though the Eagles haven't clinched anything yet, a win against the Commodores would send them to the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Tournament for the first time since 2011. It would also allow Tallahassee to maintain its hold on first-place in the Panhandle Conference standings. 

The Eagles (7-2 PC) will take the court on Wednesday with a half-game lead over Northwest Florida State College (6-2), though both teams are tied in the all-important loss column. Northwest Florida State is also on the road Wednesday at Pensacola State College. 

Both games are scheduled to tip at 8:30 p.m. eastern. The Tallahassee-Gulf Coast State game can be seen live on GCTV. 

Tallahassee put itself in position to clinch a postseason berth by protecting home court last week – first, with a 90-85 victory over Northwest Florida State on February 2 then a 64-51 win over Pensacola State four days later – and getting some help from Chipola College, who knocked off Gulf Coast State on Saturday. 

All that left the Eagles with a three-game lead over the third-place Commodores with three games remaining. And there's no better time than the present for the Eagles to get acquainted with a win-or-go-home mentality. 

Tallahassee closes its home schedule by hosting Chipola on Saturday then wraps up the regular season a week later at Northwest Florida State. 

Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. eastern women's game is, perhaps, even more important for the Eagle women. 

Tallahassee (4-5 PC) has third place all to itself at the moment but is battling Northwest Florida State (2-6) for the PC's third and final postseason berth. A win on Wednesday would give the Eagles an even more solid grip on a potential postseason berth, but it won't be easy. 

Gulf Coast State is trying to hold off Chipola for the conference championship – and if that wasn't enough, the Lady Commodores are coming off their first loss of the season on Saturday, at the hands of the second-place Indians. 

Tallahassee vs. Gulf Coast State Women's Capsule 

• Tipoff: 6:30 p.m.
• Broadcast Info: https://gulfcoaststatecollege.viebit.com/ (video); http://wtal1450.com (radio)
• Records: Tallahassee (15-11, 4-5 PC), Gulf Coast State (22-1, 8-1)
• Rankings: Tallahassee (Region 8 No. 5), Gulf Coast State (Region 8 No. 1, NJCAA No. 1)
• Head-to-Head: Gulf Coast State leads the all-time series, 55-8
• In Panama City: Gulf Coast State leads, 24-5
• Current streak: Gulf Coast State has won five in a row
• This season: GC 77, TCC 64 (1/6/16); GC 64, TCC 61 (1/19/16)

Tallahassee vs. Gulf Coast State Men's Capsule

• Tipoff: 8:30 p.m.
• Broadcast Info: https://gulfcoaststatecollege.viebit.com/ (video); http://wtal1450.com (radio)
• Records: Tallahassee (18-9, 7-2 PC), Gulf Coast State (17-10, 4-5)
• Rankings: Tallahassee (Region 8 No. 3, NJCAA RV), Gulf Coast State (Region 8 No. 9)
• Head-to-Head: Tallahassee leads the all-time series, 54-21
• In Panama City: Tallahassee leads 24-13
• Current streak: Tallahassee has won three in a row
• This season: TCC 95, GC 81 (1/6/16); TCC 74, GC 61 (1/19/16)