#10 Indians defeat Albany Tech; fall to SW Mississippi

MARIANNA, Florida – The #10 Chipola men's basketball team tipped off the 2024-2025 season this weekend by hosting the annual Milton H. Johnson Classic. The Indians defeated Albany Technical College in the season opener for both teams on Friday night, 69-57, before falling to Southwest Mississippi Community College on Saturday afternoon by the same score.

Game 1: Chipola 69, Albany Tech 57

Markel Freeman led Chipola with 15 points and Justin Burns registered a double-double in his first collegiate game to give the Indians their ninth straight opening night win.

The Titans leading scorer from a season ago, Chase Hill, picked up where he left off by scoring the game's first points, a three to give the visitors from Georgia an early lead.

In the early going, the teams would go back and forth but with just under six minutes played in the game, the Indians pushed out to a five-point lead following a three-point bucket from Freeman and a free throw from Justin Burns on the next trip down the court.

However, with eleven minutes remaining in the first half, the Titans' Brandon Williams hit a long range shot to put his team out in front, 18-16. Despite Chipola tying the game a couple of times, Albany Tech did not trail the Indians the remainder of the first half and built their lead to seven with just over two minutes left before the break.

Chipola cut into the lead over the final seconds but trailed at the half, 41-37.

Coach Donnie Tyndall's defense showed up in the second half and it was apparent that it had been requested in the locker room during the intermission.

Matthew Webster's defensive rebound followed by a steal on the Titans' opening two possessions led to points on the other end to tie the score 41-41 with less than two minutes off the clock.

Albany Tech would retake the lead on the next possession courtesy of a pair of free throws but Antonio Baker's only three of the night put the Indians up by one. It was a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the night.

Chipola held the Titans to just three field goals and 16 points in the second half and built their lead up to 13 before taking the 69-57 victory.

Four players scored in double digits for Chipola. Along with Freeman's 15, Promise Opurum and Grace Aluma had 10, and Justin Burns added 11. Burns dominated the boards with 15 rebounds to record a double-double.

Game 2: SW Mississippi 69, Chipola 57

After leading much of their first game of the Milton H. Johnson Classic but then losing on a three-point basket at the buzzer, the Bears made certain there would be no heroics from their opponent on night two.

The Indians started the game by scoring the first four points of the game but Southwest Mississippi would outshoot Chipola from deep to keep the game close.

With nine minutes left in the first half, the Bears' leading scorer, Tylik Weeks, broke a 15-15 tie to give SWMCC the lead that they would not surrender. Weeks went on to score 25 and was joined in double digits by teammate, LeVionne Lindsey, with 15.

Chipola trailed by eleven at the break and would cut the lead to two in the second half but the Bears answered every time the Indians would go on a run.

Markel Freeman led Chipola again with 12 points and was joined by Antonio Baker with 10.

Up Next

Chipola will travel to Gulf Coast State College next weekend to participate in the Richard Sanders Fall Classic presented by Visit Panama City Beach. Chipola will take on East Central Community College (MS) on Friday at 4 PM and Copiah-Lincoln on Saturday at 6 PM.

The Chipola women will also participate in the Classic. Coach Mitch Rolls' Lady Indians will play Daytona State at noon on Friday and Andrew College on Saturday at noon.

Full schedule: Richard Sanders Fall Classic presented by Visit Panama City Beach