#TCCBasketball: Eagles fall just short vs. NWF

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 16, 2019) – Tallahassee Community College's men's basketball team fell to Northwest Florida State College, 75-71, on Wednesday evening in Panhandle Conference action. 

The Eagles, ranked No. 12 in the NJCAA poll and No. 4 in Region 8, are now 17-3 on the season and 1-2 in PC play. 

What proved to be the most crucial sequence of the game unfolded with 90 seconds remaining and the game tied at 68. The Raiders' Jaivon Hamlet missed a pair of free throws but Kayne Henry came away with the offensive rebound and the putback to push the Raiders in front by a bucket. 

On the Eagles' ensuing possession, Richard Washington, who finished with a team-high 17 points, got loose for an open look at the top of the key. His go-ahead three rimmed in and out, however, and Deven Palmer was whistled for a foul on the rebound. Noah Morgan stepped to the line and hit both to extend Northwest Florida State's lead to 72-68. 

A pair of free throws by Eric Boone brought Tallahassee back to within two points but Hamlet found his way back to the free throw line, this time hitting both shots to essentially seal the win. 

Palmer and Salisu Yahaya joined Washington in double-figures for Tallahassee with 15 and 10 points, respectively. 

Tallahassee jumped on the Raiders early. A three by Washington capped a 12-3 spurt and the Eagles led 16-6 less than four minutes in. The lead eventually reached 11 before the Raiders made a run of their own. 

Chris Duarte scored ten points during a 12-0 run that gave Northwest Florida State its first lead of the game, 19-18, at the 11:43 mark. Neither team led by more than six points over the final 30+ minutes. 

The Raiders led 36-32 at the break and eventually 55-49 with just under 12 minutes remaining. Eight unanswered points, with bookend baskets from Natorian Tyson, brought the Bill Hebrock Eagledome to life and put the Eagles in front, 57-55 with 9:11 left in the game. 

The game featured 15 lead changes and six of the nine ties occurred during the second half.  

Tallahassee will travel to Pensacola State College on Saturday. Tip-off is 8:30 p.m. eastern.