TAMPA — With one minute to play, Polk State Basketball appeared on the verge of getting that elusive first Citrus Conference win on Wednesday night. Hillsborough College closed on a 7-0 run to slip past the Eagles, 81-77.
Down 74-73,
Isaiah McCray turned a one-point deficit into a three-point lead as he knocked down a 3-pointer while being fouled with 1:24 remaining. McCray knocked down the free throw to push the Polk State lead to 77-74.
With less than a minute to go, Chandler Davis tied the game for the Hawks with a 3-pointer of his own. His putback on the ensuing possession put Hillsborough ahead for good with 19 seconds left.
McCray drove for the tying attempt for Polk State, but his fadeaway missed with seven seconds remaining. Hillsborough knocked down a pair of free throws on the other end to put the game away.
Polk State led by as many as five in the first half but didn't close the opening session as well as it hoped. After an
Adonys Christo step-back 3-pointer cut the Hillsborough lead to 35-34, the Hawks responded with an 8-0 run. A Christo jumper ended the spurt as the Eagles trailed 43-36 at halftime.
Hillsborough was able to extend its lead to 51-40 early in the second half, but Polk State (4-16, 0-7 Citrus) answered with a 14-0 run.
Eric Dailey tied the game with a steal and a breakaway dunk before giving the Eagles the lead with a 3-pointer on the ensuing Polk State possession. From there, it was a back-and-forth affair.
McCray led Polk State with 21 points. Dailey added 15 points.
Josh Pitts and
Tre Jackson chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Since a 4-2 start, Polk State has now dropped 14 straight contests. The Eagles will play their fourth of six straight road games on Saturday and conclude the month of January on Saturday afternoon at Eastern Florida State College.
