TCC Men’s Basketball advances to NJCAA Quarterfinals

HUTCHINSON, KS (March 22, 2023) – TCC Men's Basketball advanced to the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Tournament on Wednesday afternoon after a thrilling 94-93 win in overtime over Salt Lake Community College. The Eagles will play Dodge City Community College on Thursday, March 23 at 6:00 PM CDT in the quarterfinals. 

Salt Lake's game plan was to take as many deep shots as possible, tallying 20 three-point attempts in the first half. While they converted on eight of them, TCC shot 7-for-9 from beyond the arc before the break. Isaiah Cathey (G, Soph.) knocked down a pair from deep, and Ja'Quavian Florence (G, Soph.) shot 4-for-4 from three. TCC went into halftime down 43-41. 

The second half saw both teams go on impressive runs. The Eagles found themselves down 10 with a little over six minutes to play in the second half but went on a 17-0 run to give them a seven-point lead with 3:30 left in regulation. The Bruins fought their way back and secured a one-point lead with 16 seconds left in the second half. Trailing by one, Tom Mark (F, Soph.) went 1-for-2 from the free throw line, tying the game at 83. 

Salt Lake's Jalen Weaver was then fouled by Malachi Davis (G, Soph.) with six seconds remaining, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. TCC got the defensive rebound and pushed the ball up to Florence, who had already connected on five three-point attempts. His shot caromed off the glass and rim, narrowly missing, and sending the game to overtime. 

Florence opened the overtime period with a made three-pointer, but Salt Lake went down and hit one on the other end, continuing the back-and-forth affair. The Bruins converted on a layup with 17 seconds left to give them a 93-90 lead, and then the Eagles brought it down for one final shot. 

The ball of course went to Davis, who had been sitting on 44 points since late in the second half. With three seconds on the clock, Davis was forced to take an unbalanced three-point shot from the right wing. The whistle blew for a foul on Salt Lake's Hunter Erickson as the ball simultaneously crashed through the net, tying the game at 93. Davis knocked down the free throw, completing the four-point play and giving TCC a 94-93 lead. 

Salt Lake missed at the buzzer, ending an instant classic.  

Malachi Davis set multiple school records in the victory, including most points in a game (48), most field goals made in a postseason game (15), most field goals attempted in a game (31), most free throws made in a postseason game (12), 

The team also set a record for three-point percentage (min. 10 attempts), going 15-for-29 from beyond the arc (.517). 

Ja'Quavian Florence (G, Soph.) matched a career-high in scoring as well, recording 22 points for the first time since his true freshman season at Charleston Southern. 

After the game it was announced that head coach Rick Cabrera will be departing at the end of the season, accepting the same role at Northwestern State University. For now his focus is on his team and this tournament. 

"To my Tallahassee family, I would like to thank you for the wonderful two years that you have given me and my family," said Cabrera. "I would like to thank Jim Murdaugh, Sheri Rowland, Chuck Moore and Rob Chaney for making these two years the best of my coaching career. Most importantly, being the Head Coach at Tallahassee Community College is my only priority right now as we pursue an opportunity to bring home a championship." 

The win brings TCC to 30-5 on the season. This is just the fourth 30-win season in program history after 1995-96, 1996-97, and 2005-06. 

TCC has reached the quarterfinals of this tournament every time they have made an appearance. In 2006, the Eagles reached the NJCAA Championship Game where they fell to the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. 

In the quarterfinals, TCC takes on Dodge City Community College (KS). The Conquistadors are 25-9 on the season, and today knocked off #4 seed Moberly Area Community College 77-74. Thursday's game is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 PM CDT.