Box Score WINTER HAVEN — Polk State Basketball continued to mature and grow together on its home court Friday afternoon. The Eagles surpassed undefeated Hillsborough Community College 68-65 to win their third-straight contest and improve to 3-2 on the season. 
 
"The way we defended a team averaging 101 points per game and how different guys stepped up in major ways today is huge for our confidence," said Polk State Head Coach Brandon Giles. "This team has been through a lot of adversity in the last 72 hours."
 
The Eagles had to grind through a tremendous amount of adversity in the first half, trailing 28-14 with 5:55 remaining. Hillsborough shot 5-for-10 from three-point range through the first 20 minutes of action, while the Eagles were held to 26.3% from the field in the first half.
 
Freshman guard Dominick Nelson was key in helping the Eagles keep pace with the Hawks in the first half, depositing 11 of his 15 points off the bench in the opening half. Polk trailed 36-30 at the intermission. 
 
In the second half, it was team captain George Pridgett erupting for an 11-point half. As a unit, Polk improved to shoot 32.3% from the field in the second half.
 
However, it was the free throw line where the Eagles did their damage in the second half. Polk was 14-for-17 as a team from the charity stripe to close out the game.
 
Trailing 61-54 with 5:51 in regulation, the Eagles were able to go on a 10-3 run to tie the game at 64-64 with 1:51 to go.
 
Pridgett provided the heroics for the Eagles once again, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line to seal the victory for the Eagles.
 
Nelson also hauled in a team-high seven rebounds in the win. Sophomore center Naadhir Wood scored nine and brought down six boards. Sophomore center AJ Hamrick scored nine off the bench for Polk and swiped three steals.
 
"I am very proud of the way this group represents the logo on the chest: Polk!," added Giles.
 
Up next, the Eagles will partake in the Manatee Classic in Bradenton over Thanksgiving week. First off, Polk State will face Georgia Highlands College, who received votes this week, on Thanksgiving Day at 2 p.m.