Eagles rally late, avoid Pensacola State’s upset bid

Watch Eboni Watts' game-winner

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 24, 2015) – Eboni Watts hit two shots in the final 22 seconds, including the go-ahead basket with two seconds remaining, to give NJCAA No. 12/FCSAA No. 3 Tallahassee Community College a 73-71 win over Pensacola State College on Saturday evening in Panhandle Conference basketball action. 

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Tallahassee (19-5), who improved to 4-2 in Panhandle Conference play. Pensacola State (8-14) fell to 0-6 in league play but gave the Eagles everything they could ask for and more. 

With the Eagles trailing 71-68, Watts knocked down a three-pointer with 20 seconds left to tie the game. The Eagles forced a turnover on Pensacola State's ensuing possession then, following a timeout, Watts pulled up and knocked down a 12-footer with 2.7 seconds left that proved to be the game-winner. 

Watts finished with a career-high 17 points and was one of three players in double-figures for the Eagles. 

Karley Barnes scored 18 points and pulled down a season-high 17 rebounds. Wells finished with 15 points. 

Tallahassee erased a ten-point deficit midway through the first half only to see the Pirates regain the momentum and go to the locker room with a 40-30 lead. Pensacola State's lead grew to 14 points (46-32) less than two minutes into the second half before Tallahassee mounted a charge. 

Wells capped a 12-2 run with a basket at the 15:06 mark to cut the Eagles' deficit to 48-44. Another Wells basket with 10:24 remaining finished a 7-0 run and gave Tallahassee its largest lead of the game, 55-52. 

Pensacola State continued to answer and went back in front by five, 64-60, with 4:45 left in the game and took a 70-68 lead into the final minute courtesy of Meredith Tarver's basket. Alaysia Mitchell hit 1-of-2 free throws to extend the Pirates' lead to 71-68 before Watts' heroics. 

Tallahassee will travel to Gulf Coast State College on Wednesday. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. eastern.