Jones' late steal preserves Raider win (GALLERY)

NICEVILLE - Chris Jones did not have his best night offensively on Wednesday night against Chipola.

But that didn't stop the nation's second-leading scorer from making the biggest play of the night anyway.

Jones, Northwest Florida State's sophomore All-American, stepped into the lane and stole the ball from Chipola's Kruize Pinkins as Pinkins turned to attempt a game-tying shot with two seconds to go in regulation, preserving NWF State's tenuous lead and securing a 64-62 win.

Jones' theft finished off a come-from-behind win for the Raiders, who secured at least a share of the
Panhandle Conference regular-season championship by improving to 23-3 overall and 9-2 in league play.

View a photo gallery from the game >>

The Raiders, who won two of three games this season against Chipola, once trailed by as many as seven in the second half, but a pair of huge shots from Jones and Crestview native Shykeem Jackson helped turn the tide. Jackson, a sophomore guard, connected on a 3-pointer to give NWF State a 59-58 lead with six minutes to go, and Jones stretched that lead to 62-58 moments later with a trey of his own.

Jones, a Louisville signee who averages 23 points per game, faced double-teams all night and finished with 12 points.

Freshman Michael Chandler, a 6-foot-11 center from Indianapolis, led the Raiders with 16 points.

It was Chandler's two free throws in the final minute that lifted the lead to 64-60, enough of a cushion to withstand the late rally from Chipola. When Jones ripped the ball away from Pinkins, the Raiders had a win and another Panhandle Conference banner to hang at The Arena.

NWF State will host its final home game of the season on Saturday night when Pensacola State visits for a 7:30 tipoff.