The #9 Indians moved to 3-0 this weekend after consecutive 76-66 wins in the Chipola Classic.
On Friday night, sophomore transfer Derrick Butler was 9 for 13 from the field, including 6 of 6 from three-point range, to lead the Indians over Southwest Mississippi Community College.
All five starters scored in double digits on Saturday night as the Indians took down Polk State College in a FCSAA Region VIII matchup.
The Indians will head to Rome, Georgia next weekend to take on host team, Georgia Highlands College (0-0), and Central Georgia Tech (2-0) in the Dana Davis Classic. Chipola will face GHC on Friday at 6 PM CST and the Titans on Saturday at noon.
Chipola vs. Southwest Mississippi Community College, November 4, 2022
Chipola used a strong first half and 27 points from Derrick Butler to take a 76-66 win over the Bears from Southwest Mississippt Community College on the opening night of the Chipola Classic at The Milt.
After the teams swapped leads the first seven minutes of the game, JC Curry made a back door cut and slammed a Jamil Safieddine pass home to give the Indians the lead for good with 12:54 remaining in the first half. Curry, a freshman from Hartwell, Georgia, finished the night with 20 points.
After the Indians took a 40-30 lead into the locker room, the Bears reversed the roles on the Indians. Typically, it's Chipola making a strong run to start the second half. Southwest Mississippi used an 11-2 run in the first three minutes after the break to close Chipola's lead to 42-41.
The Indians would answer with a 7-0 run of its own over the next minute capped off by one of six three pointers on the night from Butler.
The Bears would never get closer than three the rest of the night as the Indians went on to stretch the lead in the final minutes.
Chipola shot 22-for-50 (44.0 %) from the floor on the night including 8 of 13 from three-point range. JC Curry was a perfect 5 of 5 from the floor and converted 8 of 11 free throw attempts.
The Indians held the Bears to 36.1 percent shooting on the evening and forced 20 turnovers. Chipola outrebounded the Bears, 38-24, led by Paul Green who had eight.
"Derrick Butler played well for us and JC Curry played well coming off the bench," said Coach Donnie Tyndall following the win. "Both of those guys did some good things offensively but I also think they did a good job on the defensive side of the floor."
"Southwest Mississippi was a tough opponent. Corey (Schmidt, Southwest Mississippi head coach) does a really good job and his kids play the right way. They take good shots and they defend well in the half court so it was a quality win. I don't think we played great but Southwest Mississippi had something to do with that."
Chipola vs. Polk State College, November 5, 2022
The Indians closed out the Chipola Classic with a hard-fought win on Saturday night over the Eagles from Polk State College, 76-66.
All five starters for the Indians, led by Deyton Albury with 17 points, tallied double digits in the matchup between two of last year's FCSAA/Region VIII tournament participants.
After the Indians stretched a first half lead out to seven, the Eagles closed on a 5-0 run to give Chipola a 32-30 lead at the break.
A 13-5 run by the Indians that stretched the lead to ten to start the second half proved to be the difference as the teams were even the rest of the game.
The Indians shot 50 percent (24-of-48) from the floor and out rebounded the Eagles, 28-22. Albury and Paul each had six boards to lead Chipola.
"I think we finally defended in the half court the way I want my team to defend," said head coach Donnie Tyndall.
The Indians forced 17 Eagles' turnovers and had four blocked shots and eight steals. For the game, the Eagles were held to 40.7 percent shooting, including just 9-of-29 from behind the arc.
Tyndall was impressed with how his team played but also complimentary of Polk State coach Brandon Giles' squad.
"I thought our team played hard and Polk State is very talented. They have six Division One transfers and Brandon does a really good job with his team."
The Indians now head out on the road but Coach Tyndall was appreciative of the Chipola fans following the opening week of basketball.
"Our fans turned out in a big way for this three-game homestand. I truly can't thank them enough for coming out to support out team and I look forward to seeing them back in The Milt after we return from Georgia Highlands."