#2Pioneers Hold On To Beat Hillsborough

Fort Pierce, Florida – Things looked a little bleak for the #2 ranked team in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association Poll, when the Pioneers found themselves down three points with only 28.3 seconds left in regulation.  A Hillsborough player had just drilled a deep three-point basket with the shot clock expiring giving them an 85-82 lead.  Indian River State College (IRSC) didn't seem phased as they quickly advanced the ball to halfcourt, and IRSC Head Coach Charlie Wilson immediately called timeout with 20.8 seconds left. Out of the timeout, A.J. Cajuste set the play and drove baseline, swinging the ball to Tyeree Bryan who connected on the baseline three-pointer with 10 seconds left tying the score at 85.  Hillsborough had one more look at the basket but the shot was off to the right sending the game to overtime. 

Bryan scored the first basket of overtime, and Cajuste followed the next offensive possession with an old-fashion three-point play when he was fouled on a nifty drive to the basket and converted the free-throw giving the Pioneers a five-point lead.  IRSC went on to outscore Hillsborough 12-3 in the overtime period giving them the 97-88 win.  The victory raised IRSC's record to 24-2 overall and 9-0 in the Southern Conference. 

Cajuste had one of his most complete games of the season with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and only one turnover.  Bryan and Bendji Pierre both recorded double-doubles with Bryan scoring 18 points and pulling in 12 rebounds and Pierre scoring 17 and grabbing 15 rebounds.  Jacob Tracey also filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.  He was followed by Jonathan Cisse with 12 points. 

The Pioneers will travel to Bradenton, Florida on Saturday February 12^th for a 4 p.m. game with State College of Florida Manatee/Sarasota.