#TCCBasketball: Records fall as Eagles improve to 9-0

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (November 26, 2018) – Region 8 No. 5 Tallahassee Community College returned to action on Monday and delivered a record-breaking effort, defeating Combine (Ga.) Academy, 133-57, in men's basketball action. 

The Eagles are now 9-0 on the season. 

The 133 points established a school record for scoring in a regulation game. The Eagles racked up 132 points on three previous occasions, the first coming 26 years ago to the day on November 26, 1992, when head coach Mike Gillespie's Eagles did it against Columbia (Tenn.) State Community College. The mark was matched on November 12, 2008, by head coach Eddie Barnes' squad against IMG Academy and on November 10, 2015, against TAAG Academy, in current head coach Mark White's first season with the Eagles. 

The overall single-game scoring record of 138 points was accomplished in a double-overtime loss to Gulf Coast State College in January 1999. 

The 76-point victory also set a school record, eclipsing a 73-point victory (101-28) over Red Devils Basketball Academy on November 19, 2016. 

Eight players scored in double-figures for Tallahassee, led by Zool Kueth's 18. He, Mustafa Lawrence (15 points), Salisu Yahaya (15 points) and Benly Olizia (14) all came off the bench to reach double-figures, leading a 75-point night by the Eagles' reserves. 

Four of Tallahassee's five starters also scored in double-digits. Deven Palmer had 14 points while Eric Boone, Richard Washington and Shamon Mosley had 12 points each. 

Combine scored the first points of the game on a basket by Erkin Kucukcolak, but Jalen Dalcourt hit a three-pointer on the Eagles' ensuing possession and added another to bookend a 15-0 run.

Jon Morgan's three-pointer brought Combine to within ten (20-10) at the 15:04 mark, but that's when Tallahassee kicked things into high gear. A 24-4 burst extended the lead to 30 by the 6:46 mark, and five different players scored as part of a 10-0 run to close the half with the Eagles in front, 68-22.

Tallahassee hit the century mark with 11 minutes remaining on a basket by Tyler Farmer.

The biggest cheers of the night, however, were reserved for walk-on Kennedy Martin, who entered the game with 3:04 left.

Martin, a freshman from Flint, Mich., wasted no time making his presence felt. After missing a three-pointer on his first trip down the floor, he knocked down back-to-back shots from long distance then converted a breakaway layup in the final minute to give Tallahassee the scoring record.

Martin finished with eight points.

Tallahassee shot 61.3 percent (57-of-93) for the game.

The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday when they host Andrew (Ga.) College for a doubleheader beginning with women's action at 5:30 p.m.