#TCCBasketball: Eagles rally to knock off Three Rivers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 29, 2016) – Tallahassee Community College's men's basketball team rallied for an 88-80 win over Three Rivers (Mo.) College in Thursday action at the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic.

The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in Region 8 and No. 9 by the NJCAA, are now 16-1 and have won 22 straight games at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. Three Rivers is 12-3. 

Tallahassee's unbeaten home streak was put to the test on Thursday. The Eagles lost four players – Deion Bute, David Simmons, Ronald Bell and Will Washington – to fouls, which coincided with Three Rivers erasing a 10-point, second half deficit. 

Tallahassee led 61-51 at the 14:00 mark of the second half but when Bute picked up his fourth foul with 13:36 remaining, the momentum began to swing. Simmons picked up his fourth foul less than a minute later and fouled out with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game. Meanwhile, the Raiders scored 13 unanswered points to surge in front, 71-67, with 8:21 left. 

Trailing 73-70, Tallahassee went on a 9-0 run to regain control. Kiair Crouch hit the go-ahead three at the 6:26 mark. He added another shot from long distance on the Eagles' ensuring possession, and Bell capped the run with a put back for a 79-73 lead with five minutes remaining. 

Tallahassee never trailed again and held Three Rivers without a basket for the final 7:30. 

Crouch scored 21 points to lead Tallahassee. Jacob Winston added 15. Bell scored 13 and Simmons and Bute had 11 points each. 

Tallahassee will play Northeast Mississippi Community College at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the final game of the Holiday Classic. Northeast Mississippi lost to Pensacola State College on Thursday, 79-76. 

Tallahassee Community College Athletics would like to thank the Leon County Tourist Development Council and Wendy's for its support of the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic.