Second-half surge sends Sharks to upset

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (December 15, 2019) – NJCAA No. 8/Region 8 No. 1 Tallahassee Community College had its seven-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, falling to Region 8 No. 8 Miami Dade College, 88-78, in day two action at the Florida College's Men's Basketball Shootout. 

The Eagles go to the holiday break with a record of 14-2. Both losses snapped seven-game winning streaks and each came in games in which Tallahassee led by double-digits. 

On November 23, the Eagles watched an 18-point lead evaporate over the final four minutes in an 83-82 loss to Georgia Highlands College. Today, Tallahassee built a 45-34 halftime lead but yielded a 54-point second half to the Sharks, who outscored the Eagles by 21 points after the intermission. 

Miami Dade shot 57.6 percent (19-of-33) in the second half, including 8-of-17 from three, to turn the game around.   

En route to the halftime lead, Tallahassee hit 18-of-31 (58.1 percent) first half field goal attempts and was 9-of-17 from long distance. The second half was a different story, however, as the Eagles made just 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) shots overall and went 3-of-13 from three. 

Balanced scoring keyed the Sharks' victory, as five players reached double-figures. 

El Ellis led a pair of Eagles in double-figures with 34 points on 14-of-21 shooting, and Jordan Guest had 10. 

Tallahassee will resume play on December 28 and 29 when it hosts the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic.