The third-ranked Cardinals spent the first half of Thanksgiving week making a statement.

Playing three nationally-ranked teams in the Pensacola Thanksgiving Classic, the Cardinals won all three to make a case for a higher national ranking.

First-year head coach Greg Heiar's squad, now 8-0, took care of No. 15 Tallahassee (85-60), No. 20 Northwest Florida State (78-64) and No. 17 Chipola (71-59) to improve to 8-0 on the season.

The updated NJCAA rankings are due out later today, but in the Massey Ratings the Cardinals have moved to No. 1, because of the results.

The Cardinals are scheduled to open Region XIV Conference action on the road Wednesday against Kilgore. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Their next Cardinal Gym appearance is Saturday versus Tyler at 4 p.m.

Here is a recap of the games in Florida:

Cardinals 85, Tallahassee 60

Tyler Smith and Garrett Nuckolls scored 13 each to lead the way in the event-opening win. Both knocked down three three-pointers.

Cameron Williams scored 11 points to lead the event-opening win. Zati Loubaki added 10.

The Cardinals hit 10 three-pointers.

The Cardinals led 43-27 at the half.

Cardinals 78, NW Florida State 64

The Cardinals raced out to a 45-19 halftime lead and never looked back.

Williams, hitting 9-of-12 shots, paced the scoring with 21 points.

Nuckolls had 13, Camarion Johnson11 and M.J. Warlow 10.

The Cardinals hit 6-of-11 three pointers and were 10-of-13 from the free throw line.

Cardinals 71, Chipola 59

The Cardinals used a balanced scoring effort to complete the sweep on the Florida trip.

Smith and Nuckolls had 12 points each to lead the way. Nuckolls hit three three-pointers.

Williams finished with 11 and Mouhamed Mbaye had 10.

Loubaki netted nine points.

At halftime, the Cardinals were up 32-26.