Eagles hold on to beat Pensacola State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 13, 2021) – Tallahassee Community College survived a second-half rally from Pensacola State College to beat the Pirates, 83-75, in men's basketball action on Saturday evening. 

Tallahassee is now 16-2 overall, 10-2 in PC play with three rounds of league play in the books. The Eagles have a one-game lead over second-place Chipola College (9-3) with four games to play, and can clinch one of the conference's two automatic berths to the FCSAA Tournament with a loss by Pensacola State on Wednesday or by defeating Gulf Coast State College next Saturday. 

Tallahassee led 41-24 at the half and needed only slightly more three minutes to extend its lead to 22 – El Ellis' basket at the 16:50 mark put the Eagles in front, 55-33. Pensacola State didn't go away quietly, however. 

Ten unanswered points got the Pirates within 12 by the 13-minute mark. Later, a 14-3 run cut the margin to just three, 67-64, with still 6:21 left in the game. 

Pensacola State got within three twice more, but the Eagles had an answer each time. Two baskets by Ellis and one from Shawn Walker kept it a two-possession game, and another Walker bucket put the Eagles in front, 77-71, with 2:11 left. 

After a defensive stop, Ellis got his own rebound and scored on the putback for a 79-71 lead at the 1:26 mark, all but sealing the victory. 

Ellis finished with a team-high 20 points. Jeremiah Kendall added 18 and Amir Gholizadeh scored 11, all in the first half. 

Tallahassee will begin the last round of PC play next Saturday when it hosts Gulf Coast State at 5 p.m.