#13 Chipola Knocks Off #7 Tallahassee State on the Road, 72-71
Chipola College picked up a huge road victory Wednesday night!
Wiggins monster night leads Chipola vs. #7 Tallahassee State on the Road, 72-71
Chipola College picked up a huge road victory Wednesday night, knocking off #7 Tallahassee State College 72-71 inside the EagleDome in a back-and-forth conference battle.
The Indians (20-6, 4-4) showed poise down the stretch, overcoming a one-point halftime deficit and surviving a late Tallahassee push to secure the win.
Chipola trailed 34-33 at the break after a tightly contested first half. Both teams traded runs throughout the night, with neither side able to build much separation. The Indians shot an efficient 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range, keeping the pressure on one of the top-ranked teams in the state.
Peyton Wiggins led the way offensively with 25 points, knocking down five three-pointers and going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. His perimeter shooting kept Chipola within striking distance all night.
Hedrens Bartelus delivered when it mattered most. The sophomore forward finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, scoring nine of those points in the second half to help swing momentum in Chipola's favor. His activity on the glass and ability to finish inside were key during critical stretches.
Chipola's bench also made a major impact. Aaron Richard added 11 points, while Lyrique Sartin chipped in 10, helping the Indians outscore Tallahassee 26-13 in bench production.
In the closing moments, with the game hanging in the balance, Demarco Middleton calmly stepped to the line and hit a late free throw that proved to be the difference. Middleton finished with six rebounds, six assists, and made the clutch play that sealed the upset victory.
Defensively, Chipola limited Tallahassee to 42.6 percent shooting and just 25 percent from beyond the arc, a key factor in slowing down one of the region's top offenses.
The win marks a significant conference road victory for the Indians and provides major momentum as they continue league play.
Chipola tips off at home on Satuday, 7:30 PM CT for Sophomore night vs. Pensacola State.