GAME PREVIEW: #14 Indians and #3 Raiders open conference play in Raider Arena
The two teams look to gain an advantage despite similar stats, records, and point leaders
MARIANNA, Fla. – Saturday afternoon, Coach Donnie Tyndall's #14 ranked Indians (16-1) travel to Niceville for the beginning of Panhandle Conference play to square off with #3 Northwest Florida (17-1). Opening tip between Chipola and the Raiders is set for 4 PM.
Two teams lose their only game in the same week
Both teams dropped a game midway through the conference season to nationally ranked FCSAA schools. Chipola lost in the FCSAA Shootout in Gainesville on December 2 to #21 Indian River State College. Northwest Florida fell at home to #2 Daytona State College on November 28.
Similar stats
Chipola is averaging 82.8 points per game to the Raiders' 80.4. Both teams are among the nation's best defensively. The Raiders hold a slight advantage, coming in at 9th while allowing 61.8 points per game. The Indians are not far behind, allowing 63.1 points, good enough for 12th nationally.
Pair of New York natives lead each team
Sophomore Dontae Walker, from the Bronx, leads the Indians with 12.8 ppg while shooting 51.0% from the floor. Sophomore Sami Pissis is right behind Walker, averaging 12.7 ppg. Meanwhile, the defending FCSAA/Region VIII Champions and NJCAA Runner-Up are led by Brooklyn native, Tajuan Simpkins, a redshirt freshman on Coach Steve DeMeo's Raiders. Simpkins averages 13.9 ppg and holds a 50.6% shooting percentage from the floor.
GAME NOTES
- Under head coach Donnie Tyndall, the Indians are 9-3 against the Raiders. In the last meeting between the schools, the Raiders defeated the Indians in the semifinals of the 2023 FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament, 61-55, at Raider Arena.
- The two teams shared the Panhandle Conference title a season ago with Tallahassee Community College. All three teams finished the season with a 9-3 conference record with their only losses coming to one another.
- A season ago, Chipola edged out the Raiders in the regular season, winning two of three games. The Raiders evened the record with their win in the State Tournament. In the four games, the widest margin of victory was ten points.
- Chipola is 10-3 in Raider Arena under Coach Donnie Tyndall including back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022.
- Chipola and Northwest Florida have won five of the last six FCSAA/Region VIII Championships.
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