TCC looking for first PC wins as halfway point arrives

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 30, 2012) - Call it uncharted territory for Tallahassee Community College's men's basketball team. 

When the Eagles hit the floor against Gulf Coast State College at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, they will be looking to avoid the first six-game losing streak in 21-plus years of basketball. The current five-game skid has only been matched one time previously - Tallahassee lost its final five games in 2008. 

Adding to the frustration of the current losing streak is that four of the losses have come by a combined 15 points. Three times Tallahassee has had possession inside the final ten seconds with a chance to tie or potentially win the game, including a 48-47 loss at Gulf Coast State on January 14. That evening, after watching an 11-point, second-half lead evaporate, Tallahassee was forced to pull the trigger on a contested field goal attempt just before the clock ran out. 

After consecutive appearances in the NJCAA Region VIII/FCSAA Championship Game, the close calls have the Eagles on the brink of being relegated to the role of spoiler as the second half of the Panhandle Conference rolls around. Tallahassee (0-5 PC) is four games back in the loss column of both Northwest Florida State College (5-1) and Pensacola State College (4-1), although a win on Tuesday would guarantee the Eagles gain ground on second place. 

Northwest Florida State and Pensacola State play on Wednesday, with first place on the line. 

Meanwhile, back-to-back losses have dropped Gulf Coast State to 3-3 in PC play. 

In Tuesday's 5:30 p.m. women's game, the Lady Eagles (0-5), like their male counterparts, will be in search of their first PC victory. They, too, have been on the short end of a string of close calls - four single-digit defeats to be exact, one of which a 74-65 setback at Gulf Coast State earlier in the month. 

Unlike the Eagle men, the Lady Eagles' 0-5 record is only 2.5 games out of a postseason berth. Three of the PC's five teams will advance to March's NJCAA Region VIII/FCSAA Tournament, and Chipola College and Northwest Florida State are currently tied for third at 3-3. 

Gulf Coast State (4-2) is alone in second place following an 84-59 loss at Pensacola State on Saturday. 

WHO: Gulf Coast State at Tallahassee
WHEN: Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 p.m. (women)/7:30 p.m. (men)
WHERE: Tallahassee Community College, Bill Hebrock Eagledome
WATCH: Panhandle Sports Broadcasting, www.PSBlive.com 

About the women's teams:  FCSAA No. 9 Tallahassee (11-8, 0-5 Panhandle Conference), NJCAA No. 7/FCSAA No. 2 Gulf Coast State (17-3, 4-2) 

About the men's teams:  Tallahassee (12-9, 0-5), FCSAA No. 7 Gulf Coast State (13-9, 3-3) 

NOTE: The new FCSAA coaches' polls and the NJCAA men's basketball poll will be released prior to the start of Tuesday's games.