Photo courtesy of Greg Rowland
Photo courtesy of Greg Rowland
Posted: Dec 24, 2018

#TCCBasketball welcomes strong field for @TDOnline Classic

Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic Schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 24, 2018) – Tallahassee Community College's men's basketball team will close its non-conference schedule by hosting the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic, Friday and Saturday, December 28 and 29. 

All games will be played at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. 

In addition to the host Eagles, this year's field includes Panhandle Conference rival Pensacola State College and a pair of schools who have become traditional NJCAA powers in the national landscape – Jones (Miss.) College, who won the national championship in 2014, and Monroe (N.Y.) College, with seven appearances in the NJCAA Tournament in 16 years under head coach Jeff Brustad. 

Two games will take place both days, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday when Pensacola State plays Monroe. 

Tallahassee will play Jones at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Monroe at 2 p.m. Saturday. 

Saturday's action tips at noon when Pensacola State plays Jones. 

General admission is $5 daily.

Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic Capsules

Tallahassee Community College

  • Head coach: Mark White
  • Nickname: Eagles
  • Record: 15-0
  • Top players: Richard Washington (19.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg), Deven Palmer (13.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Eric Boone (12.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.3 apg)
  • Notes: Tallahassee will be playing its first games since taking the No. 1 ranking in the Region 8 Coaches' Poll and No. 4 national ranking…the 15-0 start is the Eagles' best since opening the 2000-01 season with 24 straight victories…Tallahassee is averaging 94.2 points per game.

Jones College

  • Location: Ellisville, Miss.
  • Head coach: Randy Bolden
  • Nickname: Bobcats
  • Record: 7-1
  • Top players: Galen Alexander (16.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Kenneth Rogers (15.8 ppg), Shardarrion Allen (10.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
  • Notes: Jones is averaging 94.3 points per game and has topped the century mark four times...the Bobcats are riding a five-game winning streak including a win over Meridian to open Region 22 play…Alexander, a transfer from LSU, was named MACJC Player of the Week on December 11…Tallahassee is 2-0 in head-to-head meetings, the last coming November 16, 1996. 

Monroe College

  • Location: New Rochelle, N.Y.
  • Head coach: Jeff Brustad
  • Nickname: Mustangs
  • Record: 8-4
  • Top players: Will Martinez (11.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Zion Styles (11.4 ppg), Thomas Binelli (10.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
  • Notes: Monroe has won two straight…one of their losses was at the hands of Central Florida, 73-72 at home on December 1…Tallahassee won the teams' only other previous meeting on November 26, 1999.

Pensacola State College

  • Location: Pensacola, Fla.
  • Head coach: Pete Pena
  • Nickname: Pirates
  • Record: 11-4
  • Top players: Yeikson Montero (19.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Isaiah Williams (15.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Shawndarius Cowart (12.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 4.8 apg)
  • Notes: The Pirates are ranked ninth in the Region 8 Coaches' Poll and are coming off, arguably, their most impressive performance of the season, an 81-65 win at Central Florida in the Florida College's Shootout on December 9…their four losses include one to NJCAA No. 10 Trinity Valley and two to Palm Beach State College, who received votes in the latest NJCAA poll.

 

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.