Late surge sends Tallahassee past Pensacola State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 15, 2020) – In an early battle for first place in the Panhandle Conference standings, NJCAA No. 10/Region 8 No. 2 Tallahassee Community College knocked off Region 8 No. 5 Pensacola State College, 78-60, on Wednesday evening inside the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. 

Tallahassee (19-2) improved to 3-0 in league play for just the fourth time in the last 14 seasons. Pensacola State fell to 2-1 in the conference, 13-7 overall. 

The Pirates, who earlier had trailed by as many as 11, grabbed a 52-51 lead midway through the second half and had the opportunity to extend the lead, but Dexter McKenzie missed a pair of free throws, part of a 12-for-24 night at the charity stripe for the visitors. 

On Tallahassee's ensuing possession, Daivon Stephens, who scored 11 points in a reserve role, hit a three with 9:22 left to ignite a 17-0 run. Jordan Guest's putback capped the surge for a 68-52 lead with 5:07 remaining. 

Pensacola State scored the next five points, but the Eagles answered with six straight to end any notion of a Pirate comeback. 

El Ellis led all scorers with 21 points for Tallahassee. He also had team-highs of nine rebounds and five assists. DeAndre Gholston scored 15. Yahel Hill contributed 10. 

First place in the PC standings will be on the line once again when Tallahassee travels to Gulf Coast State College (2-1) on Saturday for a 5 p.m. tilt against the Commodores.