MARIANNA, Fla. (Interstat) — The Chipola Indians, one of the nation’s top junior college basketball programs, begin their quest for a national title on their home floor Tuesday when they host the Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets in a second-round game of the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. EDT at the Milton H. Johnson Health Center.

Chipola (24-7), which earned a first-round bye, enters the tournament as a formidable favorite. The Indians have won five of their last six games, including a 76-69 road victory at Daytona State on March 14 in their regular-season finale. They are led by forward Hedrens Bartelus, who is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound, four-block performance in that win. Over his last five games, Bartelus has averaged 12.8 points and 10.2 rebounds, showcasing consistent interior dominance.

They face a Northern Oklahoma-Enid (15-11) squad riding the momentum of a dramatic opening-round victory. The Jets advanced Sunday with an 81-78 overtime win at South Plains, fueled by a double-double from forward Darian Grant (17 points, 10 rebounds) and clutch performances from Riley Shore and Dontrell Yearby, who each played all 40 minutes.

The Jets have won four of their last five games but face a steep challenge against a deeper, more experienced Chipola team. The Indians’ resume includes multiple wins over highly-ranked Northwest Florida State and a strong finish in a competitive conference.

Chipola’s balance, with scoring options like Peyton Wiggins and playmaking from Demarco Middleton, will test a Jets defense that allowed 78 points in regulation to South Plains. For Northern Oklahoma-Enid to pull another upset, they will need another efficient, high-minute effort from their core players and must find a way to contain Bartelus in the paint.

The winner advances to the national championship quarterfinals in Hutchinson, Kansas.