Eagles make statement in win over Chipola

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 9, 2021) – NJCAA No. 2/Region 8 No. 1 Tallahassee Community College improved to 7-0 with Tuesday's 70-49 triumph over Region 8 No. 5 Chipola College in men's basketball action at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. 

The win also moved the Eagles to 2-0 in league play. 

Three players scored in double-figures for Tallahassee, including a game-high 26 by El Ellis, while a collective defensive effort held the Indians to their lowest scoring output in the series in more than 11 years (49 points on January 19, 2010). 

Chipola shot just 33.3 percent (16-of-48) for the game, 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) in the second half – and just 2-of-17 from long distance – while also committing 26 turnovers. 

DeAngelo Ware opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and the Eagles never trailed. His second three-pointer of the half gave Tallahassee a 31-20 lead, and Tyler Poindexter hit a free throw to cap a 9-0 run for a 32-20 advantage with 3:30 left in the half. 

Poindexter closed the first-half scoring with a basket in the paint to send the Eagles to the locker room in front 34-24. 

After Chipola scored the first basket of the second half, Tallahassee seized control with a 12-2 run. Poindexter's three from the corner finished the surge and put the Eagles ahead 46-28 with 13:12 remaining. 

Later in the half, Ellis scored 11 of his 15 second-half points during a 4:20 span, part of an 18-6 run that resulted in a 25-point lead (64-39), the Eagles' largest of the night. 

Ware finished with 11 points and Poindexter, 10. 

Up next for Tallahassee is a trip to Northwest Florida State College on Thursday evening (8:30 p.m.) followed by a home date with Pensacola State College on Saturday (5 p.m.).