WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- For the third straight year, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers are the undisputed champions of the Suncoast Conference as the #1 ranked Bucs led wire to wire against Polk State Saturday afternoon en route to an 81-69 victory to end the regular season with a perfect 12-0 conference mark for the third consecutive season. 

 

The Bucs left little to the imagination Saturday, jumping out to a 27-7 lead to begin the game and they held that 20 point advantage later in the half at 38-18.  Polk cut into the lead before the half, but not by much as the Bucs went to the locker room leading 42-26 at the break.  

 

FSW took a big lead into the half despite not connecting on a single three pointer in the first 20 minutes.  Overall they shot 46%, but cost themselves some points at the line where they were just 10-19.  

 

The Bucs put the game away early in the second , building their lead to 27 in the first eight minutes of the period. They were never threatened from there as Polk was able to make some late shots to make the final score respectable, but it was all FSW in this one as the Bucs closed the Eagles out 81-69 to complete their perfect conference season.  

 

Despite 150 points being scored, it wasn't the prettiest game offensively for either side.  The Bucs finished the game shooting just over 40% while Polk struggled to just 29% on the afternoon.  Jermaine Marshall led FSW with 20 points and also grabbed 7 rebounds which makes him the Bucs' all-time single season rebounding leader with 248 this year.  Ralph Bissainthe and Terry Roberts both had good games off the FSW bench, Bissainthe finishing with 14 points on 4-6 shooting while Roberts had 13 points and 5 steals in the win.  

 

FSW finishes the regular season 29-1 overall and a perfect 12-0 in Suncoast Conference play for the third straight year.  Polk State closes the regular season 20-9 overall and 7-5 in conference play, good for second place and the right to host in the Suncoast Conference Tournament beginning on Monday.  

 

The Bucs will now sit idle for 10 days before taking the floor again on Wednesday, March 4th in Niceville at the FCSAA State Tournament where they will take on Panhandle Conference runner-up Gulf Coast State in a 3 PM (CST) tip.