By: Dustin Kent - JCFloridan.com
The No. 5 Chipola Indians wrapped up their non-conference schedule in fine fashion Monday in Panama City by outlasting USC-Salkehatchie 91-83 to cap a 2-0 stay at the Gulf Coast Classic.
Cinmeon Bowers put in 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Indians, who won their seventh straight to improve to 14-1 on the year heading into their Panhandle Conference opener Saturday in Pensacola.
The Indians held off a game Salkehatchie squad that had already notched a win over defending national champion Central Florida earlier this season.
Chipola led 44-36 at halftime, but a 9-0 second half run gave Salkehatchie a 61-60 lead with around eight minutes to play in the game.
But the Indians answered with five straight to regain the edge and didn't relinquish the lead again.
"It was a great game. Salkehatchie played really well," Chipola coach Patrick Blake said after the game. "After they took the lead, we were able to string together some good offensive possessions and get some stops and take the lead back the rest of the way."
Sam Cassell, Jr. and Carlos Morris also had 16 points each for the Indians, with Torian Graham scoring 15 points on 4-of-5 from the three-point line, and Demetrious Floyd putting in 10 points and six assists.
Denzel Collins led Salkehatchie with 20 points on 6-fo-8 shooting from deep, while Jimmy Givens and Darryl Bridges each had 19 points.
The Indians topped Central Georgia Tech 91-69 on Sunday's first day at the Classic, with Graham leading the way with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Morris added 14 points, and Floyd 11.
Freshman 7-footer DeJuan Harvey also provided a lift off the bench for Chipola with eight points, five rebounds, four blocked shots, and two steals.
Chipola shot 55 percent from the field overall before making 58 percent in the win over Salkehatchie.
"I was really pleased how we played offensively these last two games," Blake said. "We did a great job of sharing the ball and executing our offense, especially coming off of a 10-day break. We struggled defensively at times where we're just not being where we need to be on the floor and not communicating, but that's not a surprise after the layoff we had."
The coach has been critical of his team's lack of consistency at the defensive end of the court throughout the season, though given the 14-1 record against one of the stronger non-conference schedules in the country shows the Indians to be in a pretty good place going into league play.
"Absolutely, we made sure to load up our non-conference schedule to make sure we were tested going into conference play and I was happy with how our guys responded and found a way to win," Blake said. "As far as what we're trying to do offensively and defensively, we're still just figuring ourselves out, but I hope we're on the right track headed into Pensacola on Saturday."
Pensacola State is 12-5 going into Saturday's Panhandle opener, but the Indians coach said his players have to be ready for the kind of energy and atmosphere that comes with a league game.
"It's going to be a tough test for us right off the jump. Panhandle Conference play is totally different from the non-conference and especially being on the road," Blake said. "Their gym is always packed and loud and a hostile environment. The focus the next couple of days for us is to get the rust off from the Christmas break and make sure we're going into Saturday healthy and ready to execute our game plan."