FORT MYERS, Fla.- With 18:00 left in Friday's game against the Monroe Mustangs, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers looked like they were in trouble, trailing their counterparts from New York by 15.  Fast forward 16 minutes on the game clock and the Bucs were not only up, but up by 17 and well on their way to victory. At the final horn it was an 83-69 win for the Bucs over the Mustangs to improve to 6-3 overall on the year. 

 

It was a dreadful start for the Bucs who needed nearly 5 minutes to score their first points of the game as Monroe got out to a 6-0 lead to begin the ballgame.  It was a grind for both sides from there over the next five minutes as the Bucs worked their way back into the game and a pair of Reis Jones free throws made it just a one point game at 12-11 midway through the half.  Makeer Makeer came in off the FSW bench and gave them a spark, scoring five straight including nailing a three from the corner to give them their first lead of the game at 18-17 with 7:22 to go in the half. The Bucs went cold over the final seven minutes of the half though as Monroe doubled them up 20-10 to take a 37-28 lead into the locker rooms after 20 minutes of action. 

 

The second half started as bad as the first did for the Bucs as once again Monroe got the first six points, quickly blowing their lead open to 15 just 1:05 into the period. AJ Hopkins hit a three out of an FSW timeout and got the Bucs going and in the blink of an eye it was just a three point game at 47-44 as Monroe's lead had all but evaporated at the hands of the Purple and Aqua.  Just like he did in the first half, Makeer drilled a three from the corner, giving the Bucs their first lead of the period at 49-48 with 13:17 to go and a layup for the FSW forward made it a four point game midway through the half. It remained a four point FSW lead with under 8:00 to go when the Bucs stepped on the gas one final time. A slash and scored from Cole Franklin started a 13-2 Buccaneer run, opening up the Bucs largest lead of the game at 72-57 with 4:42 to go. A high flying slam from Yvens Paul followed by a corner three from Hopkins put a nail in it for the Bucs as FSW went on to win it 83-69 at the final buzzer.  

 

Five Bucs scored in double figures in the win led by Thomas who shared the team lead with Hopkins with 15 points while also dishing out a career high 9 assists. Paul logged his third double-double in the past four games with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Makeer chalked up his career high with a dozen of his own off the bench. 

 

FSW improves to 6-3 on the year with the win while Monroe drops their second straight to begin their trip to the Sunshine State as they fall to 7-4.  

 

The Bucs will look to make it two in a row Saturday afternoon when they host Elgin from Illinois in a 3:00 PM tip from Suncoast Arena.