FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #20 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers used a big second half to get back in the win column Thursday night at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, sailing past the FSCJ Blue Wave 96-75 in their 2022-2023 home opener.  

 

It was a good game early on as FSCJ came out hot and the Bucs matched them blow for blow to a 14 all tie six minutes into the contest.  The Blue Wave took a four point lead at 22-18, but the Bucs fought there way back ahead on the back of Dezdrick Lindsay as the freshman scored six straight for the Bucs to put them on top 27-24 with 8:00 to go in the half. The teams took turns trading the lead back and forth into the final minute of the half when Bradley Douglas drove and scored in traffic at the horn to give the Bucs a 40-39 advantage as the teams went into the break.  

 

The Bucs came out on fire in the second half, scoring 9 of the first 10 points of the period, highlighted by a two handed slam from Wesley Oba to open up a nine point lead at 49-40 three minutes in. The Bucs slowly built onto their lead as Jamal Davis corralled a rebound and dunked it home to put FSW up 14 before Oba dropped in another easy deuce with 8:00 to go to put the Bucs on top 68-51. A cold spell from the Bucs allowed FSCJ to make one last push as the Blue Wave climbed back to within seven with under 4:00 to go, but FSW found their footing and finished strong, getting back to back threes from AJ Hopkins to put the game on ice as they finished off a 96-75 win to snap a mini three game losing skid.  

 

The Bucs shot 60% in a 56 point second half to finish the game shooting 53% overall on the night.  Six players scored in double figures led by Lindsay who scored a career high 19 off the FSW bench.  Brown and Oba each had double-doubles with Brown going for 12 points and 12 rebounds and Oba putting up 12 and 11 in the win. 

 

The Bucs improve to 2-3 on the season with the win while FSCJ drops to the same 2-3 mark.  

 

FSW is back in action at home on Friday night at 7:30 at Suncoast Arena as they host Spartanburg Methodist after the Pioneers suffered a buzzer beater by Miami Dade against them Thursday afternoon during the Slim Sports Invitational.