Saturday Basketball Preview: Indians travel to Pensacola State
Chipola women's and men's basketball teams head to Pensacola to take on the Pirates in a Panhandle Conference tilt at the Hartsell Center. The women will tip-off at 5:30 followed by the men at 7:30.
Women's Basketball: Chipola College (6-1; 3-1 PC) vs. Pensacola State (1-4; 1-2 PC)
Live Stream: Chipola @ Pensacola State
The #4 Lady Indians (#2 FCSAA Region 8) go back on the road in conference play to take on the Lady Pirates (#10 FSCAA Region 8). This will be the first game between the two teams. The two teams' previous match-up was postponed when Pensacola State was forced to cancel four games due to COVID-19 precautionary contact tracing measures.
The Lady Pirates are coming off a 59-44 loss to number one Northwest Florida State. The Pensacola women are shooting 33 percent, including 22 percent from beyond the arc. Tai'Sheka Porchia, a sophomore forward, leads the Lady Pirates, scoring 19.0 points per game. Porchia has scored in double figures in all five of Pensacola's games this season.
In their last game, Chipola defeated Gulf Coast State College for the second time this season. The Lady Indians are averaging 69.2 points per game while holding their opponents to 55.0 per contest.
Men's Basketball: Chipola College (8-3; 3-2 PC) vs. Pensacola State (4-5; 3-2 PC)
Live Stream: Chipola @ Pensacola State
Two weeks ago at The Milt, Chipola (#5 FCSAA Region 8) defeated Pensacola State 87-69 in the teams' first of four meetings in 2021. Since that game, the Pirates (#10 FCSAA Region 8) have won three straight games, sweeping the other teams in the Panhandle Conference. The biggest win in that three game stretch was a 76-73 win over then number two ranked Tallahassee on the road. In the Pirates last game on Wednesday night, four Pensacola players scored in double figures as they defeated Northwest Florida, 76-62, in Niceville.
The Indians are coming off an 87-58 home win over Gulf Coast State College. Chipola is tied for second in the conference with Pensacola, one-half game behind Tallahassee. The Indians will be looking to take a win on the road, a place where they have struggled in 2021. Although coach Donnie Tyndall's team is undefeated at The Milt, they are 1-3 away from Marianna and 0-2 in conference play on the road.
The Chipola men have been strong defensively through their 11 games, ranking tenth in the country in points allowed at 62.9. On the offensive side of the ball, the Indians average 74.3 points per game. A trio of Chipola players are averaging double figures on the season: Carlos Lemus (11.9); Lance Erving (10.9); and Jaeden Zackery (10.6). The Indians are making 48.9 percent of their shots from the floor, including 32.9 percent from three-point range. Chipola has not lost a game this season when they have shot above 25 percent from beyond the arc.