Box Score MIAMI – Polk State Basketball's first road win of the season didn't come easy, but clutch shots and key defensive plays down the stretch were the difference as the Eagles topped Miami Dade College on Tuesday night, 65-63.
It looked as though Polk State (2-2) might run away with the contest early in the second half. The Eagles closed the first half on a 12-2 run to take a 34-27 lead into the locker room. In the second, that lead ballooned to as many as 12.
The Sharks, however, had a run of their own. A 14-2 run drew Miami Dade even at 44, but Polk State's
George Pridgett answered with back-to-back three-pointers to put the Eagles ahead for good.
From there, Miami Dade twice closed to within one, but Polk State was able to do just enough. With less than two minutes to play, Pridgett hit another trey to push the lead to 62-58.
A steal by
Alex Vertus and a block by
Jeremiah Russell on what looked to be an easy fast-break basket for Miami Dade in the final minutes proved huge. Despite that, the Sharks had a chance to tie from the foul line.
Miami Dade was able to snare two offensive rebounds off missed free throws on the decisive possession but went just 2-for-5 from the charity stripe over the final seconds. A Russell rebound with 1.2 seconds remaining following a missed free throw that would have tied the game ultimately put the contest away.
Polk State faced adversity before ever taking the floor on Tuesday. A flat tire on the ride south made the Eagles' four-hour trip almost a seven-hour trip and pushed the start time back one hour in what was an otherwise fast-moving game.
"We all got off the bus, understood the assignment, fought through adversity and got the W," Head Coach
Brandon Giles said. "It wasn't the prettiest, but a win is a win."
Pridgett scored all of his team-high 15 points in the second half. Like Pridgett, Vertus knocked down three triples. He finished with 11 points. Down low,
Naadhir Wood and
Ashton Howard each recorded 10 points.
Jamichael Stillwell finished with a game-high 24 points to lead Miami Dade. Tyriek Weeks added 18 points in the loss.
Polk State will look to get over .500 for the first time this season when it returns home for a Friday matinee against Hillsborough Community College. The Eagles will host their annual white-out and celebrate Educational Day. Tip is set for noon.
