Late Free Throw Lifts Chipola Past Eagles in 72-71 Heartbreaker

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - FEBRUARY 11, 2026 – In a game that had all the intensity expected in a Panhandle Conference showdown, Tallahassee State College fell just short Wednesday night as Chipola escaped the Eagle Dome with a 72-71 victory.

The Eagles battled back from a double-digit second-half deficit and nearly completed a dramatic finish in the closing seconds.

Trailing by three with four seconds remaining, Shane Cherry was fouled while attempting a three-pointer. The sophomore calmly stepped to the line and knocked down all three free throws to tie the game at 71-71, sending the Eagle Dome into a frenzy.

Chipola quickly inbounded the ball and drew a foul. Demarco Middleton converted the first free throw to give the Indians a one-point lead at 72-71. He missed the second, but Tallahassee's full-court heave as time expired came up just short.

Cherry led the Eagles with 23 points, going 7-of-20 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line, including the clutch trio in the final seconds. Elijah Guillory was highly efficient, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and knocking down two three-pointers. Ja'Kwon Moore added 12 points off the bench, while Orion Wilson pulled down seven rebounds.

Tallahassee shot 42.6 percent from the field and forced 16 Chipola turnovers in a back-and-forth contest that featured multiple momentum swings throughout the night.

Chipola was led by Peyton Wiggins' 25 points, including five three-pointers, while Hedrens Bartelus added 12 and Lyrique Sartin chipped in 10.

With the loss, the Eagles move to 4-4 in Panhandle Conference play and 21-5 overall.

Tallahassee will look to bounce back Saturday when it hosts Northwest Florida State College at 4 p.m. in the Eagle Dome. We appreciate our Eagle fans who bring the energy and always know exactly where the trash cans are located in the Eagle Dome.