FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers went toe to toe with the #4 Salt Lake Bruins Friday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, but with time winding down a last second prayer for the Bruins was answered and Salt Lake walked off the Bucs 73-70 to close out the 2023 FSW Classic.  

 

The Bucs got off to a slow start as Salt Lake jumped out to an early 12-5 lead to begin the contest. FSW dug in on defense to get back into the game and five straight points from the Bucs into the under 10 media timeout cut the Bruins lead in half to just 19-14. An offensive drought for the Bucs allowed Salt Lake to cushion their lead over the next six minutes as Salt Lake pushed it to a 30-19 game with under four minutes remaining in the half.  The Bucs found themselves down 10 with under a minute left in the half when Karmani Gregory drilled a three and Tyrone Baker grabbed an offensive rebound and dropped it back in just before the horn to get FSW back to within five at 34-29 at the end of 20 minutes of action. 

 

The Bucs found some rhythm offensively as the second half got underway as Baker nailed a three to make it a one possession game on FSW's first trip down the court and moments later a drive and score from Gregory gave the Bucs their first lead of the game at 43-42 with 15:13 to go.  The Bucs and Bruins traded buckets until playing to a 55-55 deadlock with 9:48 left in the contest. The Bucs went back in front and Dezdrick Lindsay found Reis Jones underneath for a two handed slam to up the Bucs lead to it's biggest of the game at 63-57 with 5:08 to go. The Bucs looked poised to pull the upset as they led by four, 70-66 with 1:19 to go in regulation, but a bucket for the Bruins followed by an FSW turnover and another Salt Lake hoop tied the game back up, this time at 70 with 37 seconds left.  The Bucs were forced to settle for a contested three with time winding down on the shot clock in their final possession and Salt Lake did the same with time expiring, but their prayer was answered with a 30 foot shot finding nothing but the bottom of the next to send the Bruin bench into a fury and the Bucs faithful home with a sour taste in their mouths.  

 

The Bucs couldn't have shot it much better as they connected on 52% from the field and 53% from distance in the loss, but were once again hampered by turnovers, committing 16 which led to 23 Salt Lake points on the night. Jaehshon Thomas finished with a team high 18 in the loss while Gregory added 16 points and 5 assists off the FSW bench.  

 

The Bucs drop to 3-2 on the year with the defeat while Salt Lake keeps their perfect season alive at 7-0. 

 

The Bucs will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday when they host IMG Academy in a 7 PM start from Suncoast Arena.