#TCCBasketball: Eagle men hang on to beat Pirates

PENSACOLA, Fla. (February 11, 2017) – NJCAA No. 19/Region 8 No. 3 Tallahassee Community College staved off a late rally from Pensacola State College and defeated the Pirates, 60-56, on Saturday evening in men's basketball action. 

Tallahassee (23-4) is now 6-3 in Panhandle Conference play and remains two games ahead of third-place Chipola College (4-5) with three games to play as the two teams battle for a postseason berth. 

Tallahassee led 50-41 with 7:06 left in the game, following a basket by Jacob Winston, but made only two field goals the rest of the game. 

Kiair Crouch ended a four-minute drought without a basket, knocking down a three-pointer with 3:17 left to extend the Eagles' lead back to five (53-48). After Pensacola State got within two, David Simmons knocked down a fade away jumper and completed the three-point play with 45 seconds left to push Tallahassee's lead to five once again. 

After a defensive stop, Simmons missed the front end of a one-and-one and a chance to put the game away. Pensacola State took advantage and Gerald Williams' three-pointer brought the Pirates within two with 11 seconds left. 

Simmons was fouled on the Eagles' ensuing possession and, this time, hit both ends of the one-and-one, effectively sealing the victory. 

Simmons finished with 19 points. Crouch added 17. 

The Eagles never trailed on Saturday, and the Pirates forced only two ties – the last at 6-6 at the 15:18 mark of the first half. 

A 9-0 run gave Tallahassee its first double-digit lead of the game (31-20) and Crouch's three-pointer sent the Eagles to the locker room with a 34-23 lead. 

Tuesday's game with Gulf Coast State will tip off at 7:30 p.m.