GAME PREVIEW: Battle for the Panhandle's top spot in Pensacola today
#11 Chipola leads by a half game in the standings despite losing two to the #16 Pirates earlier this season
PENSACOLA, Fla. – With #16 Pensacola State's one-point loss at home to Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, the #11 Chipola Indians (20-5; 5-2) took over the top spot in the Panhandle Conference standings following their 69-64 win over #18 Northwest Florida in Raider Arena on the same night.
Chipola can distance themselves in the standings on Saturday but they will have to do something they have not been able to do all season – beat the Pirates. The Indians' only two conference losses this season have come at the hands of the Pirates.
To make matters worse for the Indians, they will have to get the win in Hartsell Arena where they have not beaten the Pirates in exactly two years. On February 15, 2023, Chipola completed a season sweep on the Pirates' home floor, 59-50.
One other nugget about Hartsell Arena this season. Two of the Indians' overall losses this season have come on the Ambersley and Peña Court. After Chipola won the first two games in the Pensacola State Thanksgiving Classic in November, the Indians fell to #3 Trinity Valley Community College, on the final day of the event. The Indians then lost to the Pirates in the conference opener.
GAME INFORMATION
Time: 4 PM CST
Location: Hartsell Arena – Pensacola, Fla.
Streaming: #11 Chipola vs. #16 Pensacola State
