Northwest Florida snaps TCC's 20-game win streak

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 25, 2023) — After 20 straight wins and a 21-1 start to the season, #3 TCC lost a hard-fought home game against Northwest Florida State on Wednesday night inside the Bill Hebrock Eagledome.

"We're going to watch film," said head coach Rick Cabrera, "cut it up, and be ready for next Wednesday."

Northwest Florida controlled the majority of the game in the Eagledome on Wednesday night, leading by as many as 17 points within the first 10 minutes of the first half. As the second half progressed, the Eagles refused to go down quietly and made it a one-score game with less than two minutes to play. That comeback was mainly fueled by Addison Patterson (G, Soph.) who scored 34 points. It was Patterson's second career game with at least 30 points. He shot 14-18 from the field, two field goals short of the 16 he made last Wednesday against Gulf Coast State. 

"We never thought the game was over," said Isaiah Cathey (G, Soph.) about the team's comeback effort. While the Eagles are no strangers to strong second-half performances, they had not had to overcome a 13-point deficit after the break. While TCC shot 52% from the field in the first half, the Raiders outrebounded the home team 19-12 and tallied six offensive rebounds. Northwest Florida maintained a double-digit lead until there was less than five minutes in the game. The closest the Eagles got was when Okeke scored a layup to make it 64-63 with 1:21 remaining. 

After fouling and sending Northwest Florida to the rebound, the Eagles found themselves down five points with less than five seconds remaining. They brought the ball across half court and Isaiah Cathey hit a deep three at the buzzer, but it was too little too late. 

TCC is once again tied for Chipola atop the Panhandle Conference with 4-1 records, as the Indians took down Pensacola State on Wednesday at home. The Eagles have a week off before they travel to play Pensacola State next Wednesday. In their first matchup this season, TCC won 69-61 after coming back from down 34-30 at halftime.