Box Score TALLAHASSEE — The effects of a long trip on short rest weren't evident early on Sunday for Polk State Basketball at the NJCAA Region 8 Shootout. A hot-shooting second half from Tallahassee State College, however, did in the Eagles as they suffered their first loss of the season, 73-70.
Polk State (9-1) raced to an early 30-14 lead.
Isaiah McAdams scored seven points during a 9-2 run that helped the Eagles build their biggest lead of the day.
Polk State led 37-26 at the break but the other group of Eagles opened the second half on a 21-7 run. From there, it was close the rest of the way.
Polk State's last lead came with just under four minutes remaining on a jumper by
Fray Nguimbi to make it 65-64. Cole Crissman followed with a 3-pointer to begin a 9-2 run to put Tallahassee State in front to stay.
After struggling in the first half, Tallahassee scored 47 points while shooting 61% from the field in the second. It went 5 of 7 from deep in the second half.
Tallahassee held the upper hand in most statistical categories, shooting 46% for the game to just 38% for the Eagles. Polk State did turn the home-standing Eagles over 16 times while giving it away just eight times.
Ty Owens led Polk State with three steals.
Kenny Fields and
Will Stallworth each added two.
Nguimbi led Polk State with 16 points and eight rebounds in the defeat. Owens finished with 15 points and four assists.
Kellen Cashman added 10 points.
Crissman led Tallahassee State with a game-high 20 points. Julius King Jr. finished with 19 points in the victory.
Fresh off its first loss, Polk State will look to bounce back as it makes its only out-of-state trip of the regular season. The Eagles will take on Florida State College at Jacksonville on Thursday as it begins the two-day East Georgia State College Classic.
