Indians fall to Pensacola State despite strong start

Pensacola, FL - The Indians battled hard but ultimately fell to Pensacola State College, 82-66, Friday night.

The Indians (0-1) jumped out to a 40-36 lead in the first half. Jaden Harper led the way with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Damarion Winston added 17 points and six assists, hitting 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. Shomari Philip anchored the paint with nine rebounds and six points, helping ICC control the boards early.

Despite ICC's strong start, Pensacola State (1-0) responded with a 46-point second half. The Pirates' duo of Deven Bates and Ethan McDonald combined for 50 points, keeping the home team in front.

The Indians showcased depth, with Kyler Fox contributing seven points and four rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench, while DJ Davis added eight points and two assists. ICC shot 38.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range, showing flashes of efficiency but struggling to sustain momentum against a high-scoring Pensacola State squad.

ICC will look to rebound against Coastal-Alabama South (0-1) tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Pensacola.