#TCCBasketball beats Jones in @TDOnline Classic opener

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 28, 2018) – NJCAA No. 4/Region 8 No. 1 Tallahassee Community College returned to action on Thursday with a 78-66 over Jones (Miss.) College on day one of the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic. 

The Eagles are now 16-0 heading into Saturday's final non-conference game against Monroe (N.Y.) College at 2 p.m. Monroe knocked off Pensacola State College, 59-55, in Friday's first game. 

Tallahassee had not played since December 12 and the rust showed early on. Jones scored the first five points of the game, and the Eagles made just five of their first 19 shot attempts overall. 

Tallahassee didn't take its first lead until eight minutes in when Mustafa Lawrence's three-pointer put the Eagles in front, 9-8, but it was short-lived. Jones answered with a 10-2 run for an 18-11 lead, its biggest of the game, at the 7:10 mark. Tallahassee answered right back, scoring nine of the next ten points, including seven straight by Eric Boone, to go back in front, 20-19, with 4:45 left in the half. 

Salisu Yahaya's three-pointer broke a 23-all tie to give the Eagles the lead for good and start a 10-4 run to close the half with Tallahassee in front, 33-27. 

Tallahassee scored the first seven points of the second half and outscored the Bobcats, 25-10, over the first nine-plus minutes to open a 58-37 lead. 

Jones made things interesting with ten unanswered points to cut the Eagles' lead to 58-47 with 7:34 left and Kenneth Rogers' three-pointer made it 60-50 at the 7:15 mark but that's as close as the Bobcats got. 

Boone scored in the paint and Deven Palmer knocked down a three-pointer to extend Tallahassee's lead back to 14, 65-51, with 6:04 left and give the Eagles some breathing room. 

Boone finished with 14 points, six assists and three rebounds. Palmer had 12 points. 

Jalen Dalcourt led the Eagles with 18 while Richard Washington had 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. 

Jones outrebounded Tallahassee, 54-39 overall and 23-10 on the offensive glass, but made only 19-of-66 shot attempts (28.8 percent) from the floor and hit just 19-of-31 free throws.

Jones and Pensacola State will start Saturday's action at noon. 

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.