Indians fall in Final Four to Salt Lake

For the second consecutive season, the Chipola men's basketball season ended in the final four of the NJCAA National Tournament. The Indians fell to Salt Lake Community College, 70-68, in the first of two semifinal games played at Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kansas, on Friday night.

Despite holding the Bruins to their third lowest shooting percentage of the season, Chipola could not overcome the #1 seed. The Indians shot 42.9% from the floor to Salt Lake's 36.8% but the Bruins were 8-of-27 beyond the arc to Chipola's 4-of-15.

The Indians started quickly racing out to an eight point lead seven minutes into the game and capped off by a Nae'Qwan Tomlin dunk down the middle of the lane off a pass from John Wilson.

Chipola held the lead through most of the first half until just over two minutes left before intermission when Salt Lake took a 30-29 lead following the first of a trio of three-point shots to close out the first twenty minutes of play. 

The Indians added four made free throw shots to regain the lead with 1:42 remaining in the half but the Bruins closed with two more shots from deep, one just before the buzzer, to take a 36-30 lead into the locker room

Chipola fans are accustomed to seeing Coach Donnie Tyndall's teams fight back from a halftime deficit and with 15:24 remaming, the Indians regained the lead, 43-42, on a putback by Achor Achor.

The teams exchanged baskets over the next five minutes as Salt Lake pushed ahead 53-52 with 10:32 remaining in the semifinal game.

Salt Lake was able to stretch their lead and with just over five minutes remaining, the Indians were looking at their largest deficit of the game, eight points.

Over the next three and a half minutes, the Indians held the Bruins scoreless while scratching their way back into the game. With 2:22 left in the game, Nae'qwan Tomlin hit a pair of free throws to give Chipola a 65-64 lead

Salt Lake ended a 9-0 run by the Indians and regained the lead with 1:55 remaining following a missed three-point attempt that was tipped in following the rebound.

After Lance Erving made one of two free throws to tie the game and Salt Lake missed a layup, Achor Achor hit two free throws to give the Indians a 68-66 advantage with one minute left on the clock.

Salt Lake tied the game with 40 seconds remaining on a mid-range jumper and blocked Krs Gardner's layup on the other end with 14 seconds remaining.

The Bruins elected not to take their final timeout of the game and instead tried to drive for the winning basket but a foul on the floor by Faizon Fields sent Salt Lake to the line.

After the Bruins made two shots to take a 70-68 lead, the Indians had a shot with 2.7 seconds remaining. Kris Gardner inbounded the ball to Lance Erving who heaved it up from just inside the midcourt stripe. Erving's shot hit the back iron as the buzzer sounded, ending the Indians' hopes of making a return to the championship game.

Season Notes

• The Indians won 30 games in 2021-2022. This was the first time since the 2008-2009 season, Chipola won 30 games and just the seventh time in school history.
• The 2021-2022 squad won the 17th FCSAA Championship, the most of any school.
• This year's team won back to back championships for the first time since 2009.