#11 Indians take Panhandle Conference lead following win at Raider Arena & Pensacola loss

MARIANNA, Fla. – The #11 Indians defeated #18 Northwest Florida for the second time this season and moved into first place in the Panhandle Conference on Wednesday at Raider Arena in Niceville. Sophomore Grace Aluma scored a career-high 19 points to take down the Raiders, 69-64

On the strength of a 41.7% shooting percentage from behind the arc, the Raiders led for 16 of the first 20 minutes. After back-to-back three pointers gave Northwest Florida a 7-4 lead, Chipola trailed the rest of the first half. With 1:54 remaining before the break, the Raiders took their largest lead of the game, 31-23, on their fifth three-pointer of the first half. Chipola closed the half on a 6-0 run to pull within two, 31-29, as both teams went to the locker room.

After Chipola scored the first two points of the second half to tie the game, Northwest Florida duplicated their largest lead of the game with eight straight points. Chipola responded with five unanswered points of their own to pull within three after five minutes of play in the second half.

With just over ten minutes left in the game, Chipola grabbed the lead, 45-44, for the first time since the first minute of the contest. The Raiders grabbed the lead back when their leading scorer on the night, Davion Hill, took a pass underneath and put it up to go up by one with nine minutes left to play.

After a missed opportunity at the line for Chipola and an errant shot by the Raiders, Grace Aluma gathered the rebound and led a four on three fast break. Aluma dished to Donald Bangham Jr in the corner in front of the Chipola bench who buried just the second triple of the night for the Indians and the only made basket beyond the arc in the second half.

Although the Raiders would tie the score at 48-48 on their next possession, Aluma, who finished the game with a career-high 19 points, drove down the right side of the lane and completed a scoop shot to put the Indians back out in front for good.

With 51.7 seconds remaining and Chipola up, 65-61, the Raiders had a chance to pull within one after Braylon Roman was fouled as he split two Chipola defenders to lay it in for two and was fouled. Roman's free throw hit the back of the iron and Justin Burns gathered in the rebound with a 65-63 lead.

Coach Donnie Tyndall called timeout with 15 seconds left on the shot clock and 35.9 seconds on the game clock. Following the timeout, Trent Lincoln drove down the left side of the lane but his off-balance layup was blocked, giving the Raiders the ball with less than 30 seconds left to play down by two.

The Raiders raced down the court and had an open look at a three right in front of their bench but the shot came up short. Antonio Baker got the rebound and threw it out to Aluma who passed it down the other end of the court to Trent Lincoln. With a NWF defender looking to intercept the pass from Aluma, Lincoln tipped it to Burns who drove the center of the lane and delivered the exclamation point with an uncontested dunk.

Down 67-63, the Raiders converted on one of two free throws with 4.1 seconds left to pull within three. Chipola inbounded the ball to Justin Burns who was immediately fouled. Burns knocked down both free throws to provide the final 69-64 margin.

Up Next

Chipola will look to avoid a sweep on Saturday when they travel to take on #16 Pensacola State. The Pirates fell at home to Gulf Coast, 68-67, on Wednesday to drop their record in conference to 5-3. Gulf Coast's win along with Chipola's win, put the Indians one-half game ahead of the Pirates for first place in the Panhandle Conference. Tip from Hartsell Arena in Pensacola is set for 4 PM.

Game Notes

• With Wednesday's win and the 67-57 victory in January, Chipola has now won the season series with the Raiders six consecutive seasons. The Raiders last won the series when they took two of three from Chipola during the 2018-2019 season.
• After Wednesday night's win, the Indians have won their last six games inside Raider Arena. Chipola was 2-0 against the Raiders in the 2023-2024 regular season and won three games to take the 2024 FCSAA/Region VIII title, including another victory over the home team in the Championship game. Chipola will look to win three more games at their "home away from home" in March when Raider Arena host the 2025 FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament.
• In his fifth season as Chipola's Head Coach, Donnie Tyndall is 14-4 against the Raiders. Chipola is 16-3 inside Raider Arena under Coach Tyndall including the 2021, 2022, & 2024 State Championships. Chipola is 8-3 against the Raiders on their home floor since 2021.