By: Dustin Kent - JCFloridan.com

The Chipola Indians will live to see at least one more day at the NJCAA National Championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., after beating the State Fair (Mo.) Roadrunners 91-83 Wednesday night in their tourney opener.

As the No. 3 overall seed, the Indians got a bye into the second round against the 19th-seeded Roadrunners, who opened play Tuesday night with a 111-99 win over Shelton State (Ala.).

The Roadrunners shot 50 percent from the field and made 40 percent from the three-point line in that win and continued their hot shooting Wednesday night, but the Indians matched them every step of the way.

Chipola knocked down 11 three-pointers on the night and State Fair added 10, but the Indians' depth of talent proved to be the difference in the end.

Sam Cassell, Jr. led the Indians with 23 points, with Carlos Morris adding 18, Cinmeon Bowers 13, Demetrious Floyd 10, and Torian Graham nine, including a pair of huge hoops late in the second half to help the Indians pull away.

The game was tied 41-41 after a first half that featured 15 made three-pointers – eight by Chipola, seven by State Fair – but the Indians took the lead on a three-point play by Morris two minutes into the second half and never relinquished it.

Chipola's full-court defensive pressure caused a pair of Roadrunner turnovers that led to a three-pointer from Morris and a dunk for Jamaar McKay to make it 51-43, but State Fair answered right back with a five quick points from Kevin Punter, who led all scorers with 24 points.

State Fair eventually cut the margin to a single point when a basket by Kedar Edwards made it 58-57 with 11:01 to play, but Cassell, Jr. and Floyd responded with consecutive driving buckets, and Cassell, Jr. hit a big triple to make it 66-59.

The lead was just five with 6:24 remaining when Graham came off the bench and hit a huge three-pointer and followed that with a pretty floater on the right baseline to put the Indians up 75-65.

But the Roadrunners continued to claw their way back into it, with a three-pointer by Deron Hill and free throws by Hill and Punter making it a five-point game at 84-79 with 2:10 to play.

A turnover on the ensuing Chipola possession gave it back to State Fair with 1:43 to play, but a three-point attempt from the left corner by Edwards missed and Graham hit two free throws after being fouled to put Chipola up seven with 1:27 left.

Two more free throws from Cassell, Jr. and a dunk by McKay put the Indians up 90-79 and sealed the victory with less than a minute to play.

With the win, the Indians (26-5) advanced to Thursday's action to take on the winner of Wednesday's late game between Hill and Jones County.

State Fair ended its season at 25-7.

Joseph Thomasson added 22 points for the Roadrunners, with Edwards scoring 16.