Ocala, FL-- After battling through the highly-competitive Panhandle Conference, the Chipola College men's basketball team was ready for the hostile environment it faced on Wednesday night in the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
The Indians got 26 points from Sam Cassell, Jr., and placed five players in double figures in downing tournament host, College of Central Florida, 82-73 before a packed house at Patriot Gym.
Chipola (23-5), which led by 18 at halftime, saw Cassell make 13-of-14 free throws on the night.
Demetrious Floyd (14 points), Jamaar McKay (11 points), Don't'e Reynolds (10 points) and Cinmeon Bowers (10 points, 14 rebounds) led the way for the Indians.
"We're fortunate now to have 12 guys that are capable of playing and everyone did their part tonight,"Chipola coach Patrick Blake said. "From the guys who played to the guys on the bench, it was a total team effort.
"We played great for about 30 minutes and then got sloppy, but overall I was pleased with our effort."
Chipola held CF to a 5-of-21 shooting effort in the opening half and held a 14-1 edge in second-chance points.
"Our shot selection killed us," Patriots coach Tim Ryan said. "It's been our downfall all year along."
The Indians also outrebounded the Patriots 25-15 over the opening 20 minutes and outscored CF 16-4 on turnovers.
"All week long we knew we had to be able to slow them down in transition and keep them off the offensive glass," Blake said. "I was real proud of the effort of our guys."
With the win, Chipola advances to the tournament semifinals and will take on Polk State on Friday afternoon at 3.
CF, meanwhile, got as close as eight in the second, but Cassell, who scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half, came up big.
Rodell Wigginton (23 points, eight rebounds), Javonte Douglas (21 points, 11-of-14 free throw shooting) and Rasham Suarez (17 points) led the way for the Patriots, who made 31-of-42 free throws.
The loss ended the careers of Suarez, Wigginton and Matthew Uchedike, members of last year's national championship team.
"It's very disappointing and we thought that us and Chipola were the best two teams here," Ryan said. "We just had too many mental lapses."
After becoming just the third Florida program to win a national title in the history of the NJCAA National Tournament and the first since Okaloosa-Walton in 1995, the Patriots were unable to have the opportunity to defend their crown in Hutchinson, Kan.
"It's been tough," Ryan said. "We got everyone's best game every night."