WINTER HAVEN – After a strong start on Saturday, a dismal second half was too much for Polk State Basketball to overcome. The Eagles were defeated by South Georgia State College in the Polk State Classic finale, 80-66.

After never leading against Brunswick Community College on Friday, Polk State started strong on Saturday, using early 3-pointers from Moises Valdez and Tre Jackson to take an 8-2 lead. Following an 8-0 run from South Georgia State, a second trey from Jackson put the Eagles (4-6) ahead for the remainder of the half.

Valdez powered Polk State with 15 points in the opening session. With 29 seconds left in the half, Josh Pitts earned a three-point play opportunity that gave the Eagles a 39-35 halftime lead.

The second half, however, was a different story. The Hawks opened on a 13-1 run to go in front to stay. After consecutive baskets from Polk State's Eric Dailey cut the lead to 48-46, the Hawks responded with the next nine points. A Dailey bucket that followed marked the last time that Polk State was within single digits.

The Eagles shot just 10-for-32 from the field in the second half and managed just nine points over the first 12 minutes of the half. South Georgia State also shot 18 more free throws than the Eagles with 14 more makes – 20-for-27 compared to 6-for-9.

Valdez finished as the leading scorer for Polk State with 16 points but went without a field goal in the second half. Marques DaSilva-Romeo shot 5-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-6 from deep while adding 15 points. Dailey and Jackson each added 12 points.

Jere'my Anderson and Chandler Thomas powered the attack for the Hawks, finishing with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Anderson grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Thomas filled up the box score with nine boards and a game-high four steals.

With the defeat, Polk State has now dropped four straight. The Eagles will close the calendar year with back-to-back games in Panama City as part of the Gulf Coast Shootout. Up next for Polk State is a rematch with Northwest Florida State College on Dec. 30. The Raiders won the first meetings between the teams on Dec. 7 by a 70-59 score.