FORT MYERS, FLA.- Behind a huge finish that included a 60 point second half, the #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers took down the visiting St. Petersburg Titans 95-74 Wednesday night at Suncoast Credit Union Arena to pick up their 20th win in 21 tries this season.
The Bucs got off to a perfect start, getting threes from Charles Manning Jr. and Destin Barnes as well as a bucket from Maddox Daniels in transition to put them up 8-0 just 1:46 into the contest. They stretched that lead to 15-4 as Manning Jr. found DeShawn Thomas down low for a two handed slam and it looked like it was going to be another walkover for FSW. But they went cold from there, going over eight minutes without a single basket as St. Petersburg closed the gap to just two at 20-18 with 6:30 to go in the half. The Bucs slowly built the lead back up, getting an old fashioned three point play from Jalen Finch and another powerful dunk from Thomas to make it a nine point game with under five minutes remaining in the period. FSW pushed the lead back to 11 before a late three from the Titans made it an eight point game at 35-27 at the break.
It was an offensive struggle for both sides in the first 20 minutes as FSW shot just 38%, but well above St. Pete who got just 29% of their field goals to drop. Manning Jr. led all scorers at the break with 10 points and also paced the contest with 6 first half rebounds.
Points were still at a premium early in the second half as St. Pete crept back in to within five at the 16 minute mark. From there though, it was all Purple and Aqua. The Bucs scored the next nine points, highlighted by a dunk from Manning Jr. and a three point play from Mason Daniels to open up the lead to 14 at 50-36 with 14:22 to play. The Titans sliced it back down to a nine point game at one point, but they would get no closer as FSW stepped on the gas, ballooning the lead to as many as 23 late before finally putting St. Petersburg away 95-74 for their 20th win of the year.
After struggling on offense in the first half, the Bucs exploded in the second half, putting up 60 points on 64% shooting in the period to finish the game at 52% overall. Four Bucs finished in double figures led by Maddox Daniels' 15 and Manning Jr. and Mason Daniels who each chipped in 14.
#2 FSW improves to 20-1 on the season and remains unbeaten in Suncoast Conference play at 4-0. St. Pete falls to 12-10 overall and 1-4 in league play.
The Bucs are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Hillsborough for a rematch with the Hawks in Tampa before returning home for a makeup game Monday where they will host State College of Florida in Suncoast Credit Union Arena at 7.
#2 FSW/ST. PETERSBURG BOX SCORE