WINTER HAVEN – After consecutive losing seasons, the 2024-25 Polk State Basketball team has put the program back on track. Now, the 60th team in program history wants to be remembered as the one that defied the odds.

For the first time since 2022, the Eagles are headed to the FCSAA Tournament. They clinched a spot before tipping off on Monday when Indian River State College defeated Santa Fe College in Fort Pierce.

"This is our first time on this stage," sophomore guard Ty Owens said. "We'll be ready for this moment. We know what's at stake."

In as the No. 8 seed, Polk State will be the underdog when it takes on Citrus Conference champion and top-seeded Daytona State College in the quarterfinals on Thursday. To win the FCSAA title, Polk State will have to win three games in three days in Niceville.

"Teams can look at our record, they can look at the teams we've lost to, and they can think we're one of the weaker teams in the tournament," forward Cole White added. "We'll be ready to play."

A hot start

Those observing Polk State during the early months of the season would not have been shocked to see the Eagles in the FCSAA Tournament. Polk State began the season by winning its first nine games – its best start this millennium.

"It was extremely important to get off to a good start," Head Coach Brandon Giles said. "Being team 60, I let them know early on that they were always going to be remembered. It was up to them to decide how they wanted to be remembered."

As conference play got underway in January, however, the Eagles were forced to adjust. Following a 12-2 finish to the non-conference, longtime Assistant Coach Josh Jackson left the program to take a job in California. When Polk State began Citrus Conference play on Jan. 4 at Miami Dade College, it also had to shake off some rust from winter break, having played just one game in three weeks.

"We respected Coach Jack so much," Owens recalled. "It affected all of us. We knew it was going to leave a huge void."

With the longest tenured assistant on staff gone, there was an adjustment period for coaches and players alike. Giles said Assistant Coaches David O'Callaghan and Michael Porrini, both in the first years of their current tenures on staff, did what they could to fill the void.

"Coach Jackson made my in-game substitutions for the last eight years," Giles recalled. "I had to adjust myself. We learned some hard lessons, but I'm proud of the way we stuck together as a staff. Mike and Dave have done a great job of just being themselves. They've been genuine and made great organic relationships with the players, built trust, and picked up where Coach Jack left off. They were very important down the stretch."

A rough start to Citrus Conference play

After a solid finish to the non-conference schedule, the start of conference play proved unkind to Polk State. The Eagles dropped their first four conference games, which included heartbreaking three-point losses to Miami Dade and Hillsborough Community College.

"We've continued to fight," Owens noted. "No matter what the score is, we play until the clock hits zeroes. Not giving up is our biggest strength."

Polk State finally got in the Citrus Conference win column on Jan. 18 when it defeated Santa Fe College in overtime, 75-70. After a 35-point loss to then No. 4 Daytona State College, the Eagles rolled in a road win over Indian River State College, 91-67. That, however, was followed by tough home losses to nationally ranked Eastern Florida State College and then to Miami Dade at the buzzer in overtime.

At that point, Polk State was just 2-7 in conference. The Eagles were running out of time to salvage their season.

"We studied film extensively," Giles reflected. "In those close losses, we shot ourselves in the foot. It was evident why we were losing. As competitors, you can either let them continue or learn from them and fix them. We chose to hold each other accountable and fix those things."

"Our mentality changed after that," said sophomore guard Will Stallworth. "We knew our opportunity to do something big was slipping away."

The turnaround

With the season slipping away, Polk State was forced to dig deep.

"Things started to change when everyone learned and accepted their roles," sophomore forward Fray Nguimbi explained. "We started to realize what we had to do to be successful."

As Polk State made the trip to Hillsborough Community on Feb. 8, the Eagles' season had been marred by heartbreaking losses. Polk State had been 0-5 in games decided by three points or less.

Following an 8-0 run by the Hawks, it appeared that Polk State was destined for another heartbreaking loss before Owens saved the day with a short jumper with 7.4 seconds left to give the Eagles a thrilling 76-75 victory.

"Everyone wanted to win," Owens explained. "It came to a point where we were desperate. We knew we had to do whatever it took to get the job done."

After avenging an early-season loss to Hillsborough, Polk State did likewise at St. Petersburg College on Feb. 12 with a 67-62 win. Down 54-50, the Eagles closed on a 17-8 run. Jordan Brown scored with just over two minutes remaining to break a 58-58 tie and put Polk State ahead for good.

"We rely on each other in the clutch moments," White said. "It doesn't matter who takes the shot or makes the play. We're there for each other."

Following back-to-back road wins, Polk State stood at 16-9 overall and 4-7 in conference. It returned home on Feb. 15 for Sophomore Day. The opponent was Florida SouthWestern State College – a program the Eagles had never defeated.

Looking for a third straight Citrus Conference win, Polk State trailed by double figures for much of the contest, but with the game on the line, the Eagles made plays on both ends of the court. Down four with less than a minute to play, Owens hit a pair of free throws before finding Nguimbi at the rim for the game-tying basket with 2.5 seconds left. In overtime, Polk State held the Buccaneers without a field goal in an 80-73 win.

"Our will to win is a difference maker," Stallworth said. "First half, second half – it doesn't matter. When things get tough, we stick together."

On a three-game winning streak, Polk State missed a golden opportunity to cruise to the postseason when it lost at Santa Fe on Feb. 19. Following a forfeit victory over Daytona State, the Eagles played their final home game of the season on Feb. 26 against last-place Indian River State. Down nine with less than 90 seconds to play, Polk State seemed headed for a debilitating loss.

But as it had during its hot streak, Polk State found a way. Behind an intense defensive press and clutch playmaking from Owens, the Eagles willed their way back into it. Following a three-point play from Owens that cut the deficit to 83-81, Polk State forced a turnover and Brown popped open in the corner. His 3-pointer with 32 seconds left was part of a 16-3 run to close the contest in an 85-83 win.

"We fight for each other, and we play for one another," Stallworth exclaimed. "We go hard every minute, and we push each other to do the same."

A chance to make history

Following a dismal start to conference play, Polk State will enter the FCSAA Tournament as winners in five of its last seven games. At 19-11 overall, Polk State is in the state tournament for the first time in three years and second time under Head Coach Brandon Giles.

"Coach Giles pushes us each day," Owens explained. "He wants to win, but he wants it for us. I'm glad we're the team that finally beat FSW. I'm happy to get him back to the state tournament."

Polk State won the FCSAA in 1989, 1991, and 1994 under Giles' late father, Josh Giles. With the younger Giles' appearance in 2022, the two became the first father-son combination in FCSAA history to both lead programs to the state tournament.

"At the beginning of every year, one of our goals is to be here," Giles added. "It means a lot for recruiting and for our community and all the people who have supported this program. We're bringing this program back to where it should be. (Predecessor Matt) Furjanic and my father laid a great foundation. I look at the banners they helped raise every day and I want one of my own."

"Being from here and being part of the team that takes him back to state means so much," said Stallworth, a Lake Alfred native who spent last season at Palm Beach State College. "We're not satisfied. We're going there to win it."

While Stallworth transferred to Polk State to be closer to home, for returning sophomores like Nguimbi, Owens, and White, the late-season surge has been a welcomed role reversal. Last season, Polk State was in the hunt for an FCSAA Tournament bid in early February before losing its final seven games.

"Everyone on this team respects everyone so much more," White explained. "This year, we have more guys capable of having big games and if someone is hot, we're willing to put the ball in their hands. Sometimes last season, we had guys who would want to be the hero. This team is willing to make the extra pass if that's what it takes."

"We play for one another," Nguimbi added. "We have each other's backs. If someone goes down, we all pick them back up."

"We are a family," Stallworth insisted. "Being a college basketball player, you sometimes take things for granted. These guys are my family for life. I want more games with these guys. It's a special brotherhood we have here."

As Polk State takes the court on Thursday against Daytona State, it will be looking for its first win at the FCSAA Tournament since 2014 and keep its season – the 60th in program history – alive. The Falcons, on the other hand, have won three straight conference titles and are coming off a trip to the national NJCAA Tournament.

"We've been chasing history all season and there's no reason to stop now," Stallworth concluded. "With everything we've been through, making a statement for the P.O.L.K. on our shirts means everything. It's so important to leave our mark. I feel like it's a boxing match and we're the underdogs. Well, you can take the 'under' out of it – we're just a group of hungry dogs."