TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State College at Jacksonville rallied from a five-point deficit in the last 4:40 to claim a 68-64 win over Snead (Ala.) State Community College and the NJCAA Division II Gulf South District Championship. 

With the win, the Manta Rays punch their ticket to the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship for a second straight season. 

FSCJ beat Snead State in the 2024 district championship and earned a 92-71 victory over the Parsons on November 17. Saturday was a much different story. 

The Manta Rays scored the game's first four points and led by as many as six points before carrying a 39-36 lead to the intermission. 

Snead State battled back and forced a 47-all tie on Josiah Hardin's layup with 15:13 left in the game then used an 8-0 run to grab a 59-54 lead with 6:47 remaining. 

Trailing 61-56, Jordan Smith connected on a jumper to pull FSCJ within three at the 4:15 mark. Following a Snead State turnover, Abraham Garjah's layup cut the Parsons' lead to 61-60 with 3:24 left. 

After Snead State hit one of two from the line, Bennie McDuffie's jumper tied the game with 2:37 remaining. McDuffie hit the go-ahead basket a minute later and the Manta Rays never trailed again. 

Chrisean Oree led FSCJ with 17 points. 

Palm Beach State falls to Chatt Valley in women's finale

Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) Community College led Palm Beach State College by seven points at the break then outscored the Panthers 14-7 in the third quarter to seize control en route to a 62-55 victory in the NJCAA Division II Gulf South District Women's Basketball Championship Game. 

Palm Beach State hit just 3-of-11 field goal attempts in the third quarter and found itself on the wrong end of a 48-34 score heading to the fourth. 

Chatt Valley never trailed, leading 17-12 after the first quarter and 34-27 at the intermission. 

Isabella Rivera led Palm Beach State with 11 points.