FORT MYERS, Fla.- After losing nine players to the NCAA Division I level from a season ago, there was no doubt that things would look a little bit different for the 8th ranked Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers this season. That played true opening night as the Bucs used a more physical style than in past seasons, erasing a two point halftime deficit to grind past visiting Hillsborough 76-71 in Suncoast Credit Union Arena Wednesday night.
Things started familiarly for the Bucs as one minute into the game they got on the board first as sophomore Mohamed Sylla threw down a thunderous slam to remind the FSW faithful in Suncoast Arena just what they had been missing the past 10 months with no basketball. It was slow going from there though as the Bucs managed just one more field goal over the next five minutes until Terry Roberts broke the drought with a step back three to give FSW a 10-6 lead six minutes into the half. It was Hillsborough who owned the middle portion of the first half as the Hawks used a physical attack on both ends to force the Bucs into a number of tough shots while taking advantage of FSW turnovers to take a 23-18 lead with 6:04 to go in the half. The Bucs remained down five when Kario Oquendo popped a three from the corner and after a pair of free throws from Roberts, the game was tied with 4:20 remaining in the half. Hillsborough scored the next seven to take their largest lead of the night at 33-26 before the Bucs went on a 5-0 run of their own to close the half to cut the Hawk lead to two at the break 33-31.
It was a rough half offensively for the Bucs who shot just 29% from the field and had just one more field goal, 9, than turnovers 8 in the period.
A quick three from Jaden Campbell to start the second half gave the Bucs the lead back and another slam by Sylla made it a three point lead in favor of FSW. They pushed their lead to five on a steal and highlight reel dunk from Jonathan Dos Anjos and then stretched it to seven as CJ Jackson made a smooth drive to the bucket and scored to make it 53-46 with 12:17 to go. Hillsborough just wouldn't go away and the Bucs struggled at the free throw line, allowing them to hang around and with 3:48 remaining, the Hawks knotted the score at 62 on a second chance point in the paint. The score remained tied with under three minutes to go when the Bucs dug into their energy tank for one last push. FSW scored the next eight points including a pair of huge buckets from Klein Alexandre off the bench to go in front 72-64 and they were never challenged again. A late banked in three for the Hawks made the final score look closer than it was, but the Bucs still dribbled out a 76-71 win to send the home crowd home happy.
The Bucs struggled to just 36% shooting on the night, but turned things up on the defensive end, forcing 15 Hillsborough turnovers which they turned into 18 points and blocking 8 Hawk shots at the rim. Roberts put together a strong overall stat line on the night, going for 14 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocked shots in the win. Oquendo put up 13 in his FSW debut while CJ Lane dropped in 12. Sylla just missed a double-double to start his season, scoring 10 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in 16 minutes of work.
FSW wins their opener for the fifth straight season while Hillsborough will start their campaign 0-1.
The Bucs are back in action against another old Suncoast Conference rival on Saturday when they travel to Polk State to take on the Eagles in a 5 PM tip.