PREVIEW: #17 Chipola set to face #3 Trinity Valley

Over the last twenty years, a tradition has begun where friends who may not be able to go home for Thanskgiving would meet and have dinner together. This new tradition has come to be known as Friendsgiving. On the day before Thanksgiving, Chipola and Trinity Valley will have their own version of Friendsgiving at Hartsell Arena in Pensacola. 

Former Chipola men's basketball coach (2004-2009), Greg Heiar, will bring his #3 ranked Trinity Valley Cardinals into the final day of the Pensacola State Thanksgiving Classic to face current Chipola head coach Donnie Tyndall (2020-present) and his #17 Indians.

Both teams come into today's games having won both of their previous games in the Classic. The Cardinals have already taken down two ranked Panhandle teams and Chipola has already defeated one Region XIV team and a top five team.

On Monday, the Cardinals opened with an 85-60 win over previously unbeaten and 15th ranked Tallahassee State. They followed that win with a 78-64 defeat of #20 Northwest Florida.

Chipola picked up a 97-65 win against Lamar State - Port Arthur, a conference opponent of the Cardinals, on day one of the Classic. On Tuesday, Chipola led by as many as 21 in a 74-66 win over #4 Jones College.

Game Notes

• Chipola is 3-1 against Greg Heiar coached teams. Heiar spent the 2022-23 season at the helm of Panhandle Conferfence rival, Northwest Florida. After falling in the first conference game that season to the Raiders, the Indians came back to win the next two conference games and then beat them on their home floor in the FCSAA/Region VIII semifinals. Chipola would go on to win state title.
• Both teams are on a seven-game win streak. The Cardinals have not lost a game this season to start out 7-0. After losing the second game of the season, Chipola has reeled off seven consecutive wins.
• Neither team likes to give up points. Trinity Valley is third in country in points allowed at 54.3 and Chipola is 17th at 59.6.
• While the defense is strong, the two teams are closer to the bottom in points scored per game. Chipola scores 69.6 points per game and comes in at 165th in NJCAA D1. Trinity Valley is not much better at 72.6 ppg which is good enough for 149th. 

Pensacola State Thanksgiving Classic

All games will be played at Hartsell Arena on the campus of Pensacola State College.

Livestream available at https://piratenetwork.live/watch-live/

Monday - November 25, 2024

Tuesday - November 26, 2024

Wednesday - November 27, 2024