PREVIEW: Final game of 2024 at The Milt Tonight at 8 PM

MARIANNA, Fla. – The Chipola men's basketball team will look to finish 2024 on a high note when they battle the Lions from Reid State Technical College tonight at The Milt. The game is the final game of the Milton H. Johnson Optimist Invitational. The annual tournament is put on by the Optimist Club of Marianna and features the five high schools from Jackson County competing against teams from Florida and other states. For the second year, the Indians will close out the tournament.

Appreciation Club members can enter through the back door with your pass at halftime of the 6:30 PM game. If you want to watch the 6:30 game between Marianna HS and Lincoln HS, you will need to enter through the front door and pay admission fee.

GAME INFORMATION

Time: 8 PM CST

Location: Milton H. Johnson Center - Marianna, Florida

Streaming: Chipola vs. Reid State ($)

Tickets: $10 at the door

LAST TIME OUT

On December 18 at the Milton H. Johnson Health Center, Chipola trailed by as many as 13 mid-way through the first half against the Titans from Albany Tech. Despite falling behind by double digits, the Indians closed the half on a 30-6 run to take a 40-29 lead into the locker room. Albany Tech did not record a field goal in the final six minutes of the half.

In the second half, the Titans managed to cut the Chipola lead down to two in the first five minutes of play. Albany Tech used four consecutive three-point baskets to start the half and trailed 46-44 with 15:04 remaining in the game. The four long distance shots would be the only ones made by the Titans the rest of the game as the Indians moved to 12-3 on the season with an 84-63 win.

Antonio Baker scored 23, one away from his season-high, to lead Chipola. Matthew Webster picked up his third double-double of the season by putting up 11 points and hauling in 13 rebounds. Trent Lincoln (12) and Donald Bangham Jr. (10) joined them in double figures.

RANKINGS

The NJCAA Rankings and the FCSAA Coaches Poll will not be published again until Monday, January 6. In the latest NJCAA Rankings published on December 16, Chipola was 14, right behind Daytona State at 12 and Northwest Florida at 13. The same three teams are 1-2-3 in the FCSAA Coaches' Poll that was also last published on December 16.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

The Lions are 4-7 overall but have a 3-0 record in the Alabama Community College Conference Division II standings.

In their last game on December 13, Reid State defeated Bevill State Community College, 99-86. Tyler Mallory and Kiante Williams each had 20 points to lead the Lions in their victory over the Bears.

The Lions average 77.3 points per game while holding their opponent to 78.3. Vophcy Prophete leads the Lions in scoring at 14.8 points per game. On November 8, the freshman guard scored 32 points in an 89-84 loss to East Mississippi Community College.

The Indians and Lions have not shared a common opponent this season but the Lions fell at Pensacola State, 70-64, on November 20.