FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #20 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers jumped out to a 7-2 lead off the tip Saturday afternoon against the Miami Dade Sharks and never looked back, putting together a dominating effort in an 82-61 wire to wire win to remain unbeaten in Citrus Conference play. 

 

FSW got the first five points of the game to take an early lead and built on it brick by brick until a three from Tyrone Baker in the corner put the Bucs up 19-6 and forced a timeout with 11:35 to go in the first. Moments later Baker went up high for a two handed slam on a baseline out of bounds alley oop to make it 24-12 FSW and next it was Baker's turn to do the dishing as he worked high/low with Yvens Paul for a thunderous slam to extend the Buccaneers lead to 30-12 with 5:21 remaining in the first.   A three from AJ Hopkins and a drive and score from Jaehshon Thomas pushed the lead to 20 and at the break it was all Purple and Aqua as FSW led it 42-25.  

 

It was more of the same as the second half got underway as Cole Franklin lobbed one up for Paul for a highlight reel reserve slam and a smooth step back jumper from Thomas extended the FSW lead to 52-27 four minutes into the period. Miami Dade never threatened  as four straight from Dezdrick Lindsay kept the Bucs up 24 midway through the half and a dunk by Baker gave FSW their largest lead of the game at 70-43 with 6:07 remaining. The Sharks trimmed the lead in the final six minutes, but it was far too little, too late as the Bucs dribbled out an 82-61 win for their ninth straight victory. 

 

FSW shot North of 50% in each half to finish the game at 55% overall.  The Bucs posted a +13 on the boards which netted them a 17-8 advantage in second chance points. 

 

Lindsay led the Bucs with 22 points off the bench while Thomas added 18 on 7-9 shooting. Three other Bucs had 8 points including Paul who also corralled a game high 11 rebounds. 

 

FSW wins their ninth straight to improve to 16-4 on the year while remaining unblemished at 6-0 in Citrus Conference action.  Miami Dade falls to 11-9 overall and 2-4 in league play.  

 

The Bucs are back home on Wednesday when they entertain Indian River in a 7 PM tip from Suncoast Credit Union Arena.