AMERICUS, Ga.- The age old saying 'it's not how you start, it's how you finish' came to fruition for the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers on Saturday as the Bucs trailed most of the first half in what on paper should have been a lopsided affair in their favor against Wake Tech, but used a 50 point second half to eventually run away with an 89-58 win to improve to 7-0 on the year.
It was a frustratingly slow start for FSW, who found themselves behind early on, and they remained in trail position until Berrick JeanLouis found Mohamed Sylla for a two handed slam with 6:04 remaining in the half to give them their first lead of the game at 23-22. The Bucs controlled the pace from there, eventually extending their lead to five at the break at 39-34.
Keon Ellis scored in the paint on the Bucs first possession of the second half and it set the tone for how the final 20 minutes of action would go. It took only four minutes for FSW to push their lead to double digits and they never looked back from there. The Bucs made it a 20 point game as Jermaine Marshall grabbed a rebound and started a break that would lead to two points on the other end and they took their largest lead of the game at 31 late, which is the margin they went on to win by in an 89-58 victory over the Eagles.
Simeon Kirkland and JeanLouis each netted career highs in the win as JeanLouis led the Bucs with 21 and Kirkland with 18 on the afternoon. Ellis and Ralph Bissainthe joined the two in double figures with 12 and 11 respectively while CJ Lane came off the Bucs bench to score 9 points in just over five minutes of court time.
The Bucs improve to 7-0 for the fourth straight season while Wake Tech falls to 1-3 on the year.
FSW is back in action at home on Friday, November 22nd when they host Snow College, who makes the trip all the way from Utah to the Sunshine State. The Bucs and Badgers will tip off at 7:30 PM.