PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The #7 Indians moved to 18-1 overall and 3-0 in Panhandle Conference play with a 76-72 win over Gulf Coast (15-5, 1-1 PC). The win moves Chipola into sole possession of first place in the conference standings and moves the Commodores into a three-way tie for second place with Northwest Florida and Tallahassee. Pensacola sits at the bottom of the standings at 0-3.
Indians build a lead in the first half
On the strength of Idell "JJ" Walton's 10 first-half points, Chipola built a 41-29 lead at the half. Walton would go on to lead Chipola in points (17) and rebounds (10) for the game to collect his second double-double of the season.
With the score tied 13-13 after six and a half minutes played at the Billy Harrison Fieldhouse, Chipola went on an 18-7 run capped off by a three from Joshua "Greedy" Williams, to take an 11-point lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
From that point, Chipola managed to build its lead by just one as the Commodores gave a glimpse of what was to come late in the second half.
Holding on in the second half
After Gulf Coast scored the first four points out of the locker room to cut the Chipola lead to eight, the Indians regained control and led by double digits most of the second half.
With ten minutes remaining in the game, Jerald Colonel scored two of this 11 points in the game to give the Indians their largest lead at 62-44.
From that point, Chipola made only three field goals and Gulf Coast used three, consecutive three-point baskets to climb back in the game.
With the Indians struggling to score in the waning minutes, Gulf Coast continued to cut into the lead. In spite of the poor shooting, Chipola led 72-63 and the victory seemed to be well in hand with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
However, an 8-0 run by the Commodores cut Chipola's lead to one and meant the game would have to be won at the line. Chipola's most veteran player, Dontae Walker, who was playing in his 70th game, stepped to the line and calmly made two free throws to put the Indians up by three with under twenty seconds left on the clock.
Following a Gulf Coast timeout, Chipola's Greedy Williams almost came away with a steal, but Gulf Coast managed to get a timeout called with 4.8 seconds and retained possession, still trailing by three.
Chipola fouled on the inbound pass to send the Commodore's Andre Young to the line. Young made the first shot to close within two and tally his 25th point of the game. His second shot bounced off the rim and Jerald Colonel corralled the rebound but fell to the ground in the process and after a Gulf Coast player reached in to also grab the ball, a jump ball was called. Fortunately for the Indians, the possession area was in their favor.
Zocko Littleton Jr. sank two shots, and the Commodores, as Chipola remained undefeated in conference play.
Up next for the Indians
Chipola (19-1; 3-0) will have a rare non-conference game this late in the season and travel to face Georgia Highlands on Tuesday night, January23. The Chargers (6-10) fell to the Indians earlier this season, 80-67, in Marianna. Tip from Rome, Georgia is set for 4:30 PM central time. This game was rescheduled from earlier in the season.
GAME NOTES
- Under Coach Donnie Tyndall, Chipola is 10-2 against Gulf Coast and has won the last six times the two teams have met.
- Leading scorers for Chipola: Walton (17); Williams (11); and Colonel (11).
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