CHIPOLA, DAYTONA STATE SET FOR TITLE CLASH

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Interstat) — A men’s junior college basketball state championship will be decided on Saturday when the Chipola Indians face the Daytona State Falcons in the FCSAA DI Men’s Basketball Championships final.

Tipoff is set for March 14, 2026, pitting two of the state’s top programs in a high-stakes showdown. Chipola (23-7) enters as the visiting team, while Daytona State (22-6) will have home-court advantage.

The teams met once previously this season, with Chipola earning a 73-67 victory at home on Dec. 5. The stakes are considerably higher in this rematch, with a championship trophy on the line.

Both teams advanced with hard-fought semifinal wins on Friday. Chipola edged Northwest Florida State 66-63, led by Desmond Kent Jr.’s 11 points and nine rebounds. Daytona State dispatched Gulf Coast State 79-67 behind a dominant double-double from Noah Mendy, who scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Kent, a key player for the Indians, will be tasked with countering Mendy’s interior presence. The Falcons’ balance was on full display in the semifinals, as Alex Harper added 23 points and Tyrese Lacey nearly posted a triple-double with 10 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.

Chipola’s path included a 68-53 win over Florida Southwestern State in the tournament quarterfinals. Daytona State advanced with an 84-75 victory over Eastern Florida State.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Daytona State is projected with a 71.40 percent probability to win the title game. Chipola will look to defy those odds and capture the championship.