Ellis, Marshall Enter the Record Books as Bucs Down Miami Dade

Keon Ellis (Photo by Linwood Ferguson)
Keon Ellis (Photo by Linwood Ferguson)

KENDALL, Fla.- Keon Ellis and Jermaine Marshall etched their names in the Florida SouthWestern State record books Tuesday night as 5th ranked Buccaneers outlasted Miami Dade 82-71 to improve to 12-1 on the year.  Ellis tied a school record with eight three pointers and also equaled the all-time mark for points against an NJCAA opponent with 36 while Marshall grabbed a program record 17 boards for FSW in the win.

The flow of the game was certainly in favor of the offensive minded Sharks early on as Miami Dade jumped out to a 16-11 lead 5:16 into a wild start.  That's when Keon Ellis began his career night, drilling threes on three consecutive possessions for FSW to erase the Miami Dade lead and give the Bucs one of their own at 20-19.  A three and a trip to the free throw line gave Miami Dade the lead back, but a jumper from Ellis spurred an 8-0 run for the Bucs to give them a 30-24 lead with 6:49 remaining in the half.  A rare three pointer from Simeon Kirkland in the corner gave the Bucs a seven point lead moments later and that is the advantage they would take into the half, leading 42-35. 

Ellis led the Bucs with 20 first half points while Berrick JeanLouis added 10 for FSW who shot 46% as a team in the period.  On the other side of the floor, the Bucs slowed Miami Dade down after a hot start to just 32% shooting at the break.

Ellis began the second half with his fifth triple of the game to give the Bucs their first double digit lead of the game but Miami Dade scored the next six to quickly make it a four point game at 45-41.  A strong finish by Jermaine Marshall in the paint got the Bucs back on track and moments later another Ellis triple had them back up 10 with 12:53 to go.  Miami Dade hung around and didn't let the Bucs distance themselves through the middle portion of the half, getting to within six on a pair of free throws with 6:56 left on the clock.  That's when FSW stepped on the gas for the final time as Marshall completed an old fashioned three point play and JeanLouis threw down a thunderous two handed slam to highlight a 7-0 run to give the Bucs a 73-60 lead and put the game away for good.  Ellis popped his eighth three of the night to tie an FSW record with 2:17 left and Marshall pulled down his school record 17th rebound in the closing moments as the Bucs finished off an 82-71 road victory. 

Ellis' 36  points ties an FSW record against an NJCAA opponent while his eight threes in the game matched Maddox Daniels' school record.  Marshall racked up a 12 point, 17 rebound double-double; his 17 rebounds sets a school single game record.  JeanLouis finished with 16 points and 7 boards while Jalen Finch had 6 points and a game high 7 assists for the Purple and Aqua. 

#5 FSW improves to 12-1 on the year with the victory and sweeps the season series with the Sharks while Miami Dade drops to 10-4 with the defeat. 

The Bucs now turn their attention to the Florida Juco Shootout this weekend where they will take on Palm Beach State and Chipola in Ocala Saturday and Sunday. 

#5 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/MIAMI DADE BOX SCORE