Tallahassee rallies past Faulkner State in Applebee’s Classic

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 5, 2014) – NJCAA No. 14/FCSAA No. 2 Tallahassee Community College needed a rally in the closing minutes to defeat Faulkner (Ala.) State Community College 90-82 on day one of the Applebee's Men Basketball Classic. 

Tallahassee reached double-digits in the win column, improving to 10-1 on the season. Faulkner State drops to 7-3. 

The Eagles had to rally on two different occasions in the final 20 minutes to claim the victory. They erased a 44-39 halftime deficit by scoring the first 12 points of the second half. Then, trailing 78-76 with 4:56 remaining, Tallahassee closed the game on a 14-4 run to nab the win. 

Elmo Stephen's three-pointer put Tallahassee in front 79-78 at the 4:44 mark, and, two minutes later, Rysheed Corbin's shot from long distance capped a decisive 10-0 run and gave the Eagles an 86-78 advantage. 

Stephen finished with 23 points, leading five players in double-figures for Tallahassee. 

Eric Nottage, the TCC Eagle of the Game, was next with 13 and finished one rebound shy of a triple-double. He recorded nine rebounds and ten assists. 

Regan Eubanks scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half to pace Faulkner State. 

The Sun Chiefs scored the game's first basket when Eubanks found Phillip Rankin for an alley-oop out of the opening jump ball and never trailed during the opening half. Tallahassee forced ties of 32- and 37-all but a pair of baskets in the final minute by Deshun Tucker enabled Faulkner State to carry a 44-39 lead to the locker room. 

Tallahassee finally took its first lead 90 seconds into the second half on a basket by Norbertas Giga, and its lead grew to nine (54-45) when Corbin knocked down a three-pointer at the 15:22 mark. Just when it looked like the Eagles were ready to pull away, Faulkner State got hot from long distance. 

The Sun Chiefs' hit six three-pointers over the next five minutes, the last by Xavier Dortch to pull within one, 66-65, with 9:33 left in the game. Faulkner State regained the lead (73-72) a couple minutes later when Phillip Rankin connected in the paint. A three-pointer from Eubanks put the Sun Chiefs in front 78-76 with 4:56 remaining the game – that turned out to be their final lead of the game. 

Joining Stephen and Nottage in double-figures for Tallahassee were Norbertas Giga and Corbin, who scored 12 points each, and Cameron Smith's 10. 

Day 2 of the Applebee's Men's Classic tips at 2 p.m. Saturday when Faulkner State squares off against Northwest Florida State College. Tallahassee will host TAAG Academy at 4 p.m. 

Northwest Florida State defeated TAAG, 74-47, in Friday's first game. 

receive free admission. Family members will be admitted free by bringing an unwrapped toy to support Tallahassee Community College's Toys 4 Tots Campaign. 

Tallahassee Community College would like to thank Applebee's and the Leon County Tourist Development Council for their support of the Applebee's Men's Basketball Classic.