The #4 Chipola men's basketball team defeated Southern Union and LSU Eunice in the Thanksgiving Classic held at the Milton H. Johnson Center over the weekend. With a third of the season played, the Indians remain unbeaten (10-0) but will hit the road for five games, their longest stretch away from The Milt this season.
Chipola will travel to Americus, Georgia to face South Georgia Tech (3-3) on Tuesday night at 6:30 central. The Indians defeated the Jets, 85-57, earlier this season at home.
Chipola vs. Southern Union, November 25, 2022
The Indians used a 15-0 run midway through the first half against the Bison (1-3) and then cruised to a 94-50 win on day one of the Thanksgiving Classic.
Six different players reached double figures in the contest led by Derrick Butler with 16. Paul Greene collected his third consecutive double-double by scoring ten points and bringing in ten rebounds.
Joining Butler and Greene in double figures were Jamil Safieddine with 14, Jerald Colonel with 12, Zach Bell with 11, and Tay Knox with 10.
Friday's game also marked the return for sophomore Jatarion Warren. Warren, who has been sidelined with an injury since opening night, made his return with a thunderous dunk midway through the second half for two of his four points on the night.
Chipola vs. LSU Eunice, November 26, 2022
The Indians fought off a pesky squad from LSU Eunice on Saturday behind Deyton Albury's 17 points.
The Bengals held Chipola to just 20-of-58 (34.5 percent) from the floor, the lowest output of the season for the Indians. The Chipola men were also held to just 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from three-point range.
Chipola used a stingy defense of its own to keep the Bengals in check. The Indians forced 18 turnovers while smothering the visitors from Louisiana on the boards, 49-32.
The Indians went to the locker room with a comfortable 32-25 lead at the end of the first half, in which, they led by as many as nine points.
With just over 13 minutes left in the second half, the Bengals tied the score at 43-43 then went on to take a four-point lead with under eleven minutes remaining.
Chipola went back ahead for good with eight minutes remaining in the game on a drive by Jamil Safieddine who dished off to Jerald Colonel in the paint for a 56-54 lead.
The Indians would up their lead to as many as ten before finishing the game with the 70-62 final. Joining Albury in double figures was Jamil Safieddine with 14 and Jerald Colonel with 12. JC Curry just missed a double-double with nine points and ten rebounds.