MELBOURNE, Fla.- For the final 11 minutes and 59 seconds of their Florida Juco Shootout game with the 3^rd ranked Chipola Indians, it looked like the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were going to knock Chipola from the ranks of the unbeatens.  Unfortunately for the Bucs, Chipola's JT Warren picked the most inopportune time to connect on his first three pointer of the year, swishing home a triple with 0.7 seconds remaining on the clock to beat the Bucs 70-69, bringing a heartbreaking end to FSW's seven game winning streak.  

 

In the most anticipated matchup of the 21^st Annual Florida Juco Shootout in Melbourne, the Bucs were in control early on, taking an early 9-5 lead on a slam by Tyson Brown and holding the four point lead to 19-15 midway through the first after a pair of free throws from Wesley Oba. A run for the Indians erased the Bucs lead and gave Chipola their first advantage of the game at 29-22 with just under 7:00 remaining in the half and it was Chipola taking a 38-33 lead into the locker rooms at the break. 

 

The Bucs were the aggressors early in the second and after closing the gap, took their first lead of the period at 48-47 with 12:00 to go. A three from Omar Rowe pushed their lead to four at the 9:00 mark and two more triples from the Bucs sophomore opened up an eight point lead at 64-56 with 7:00 remaining. The Bucs stayed solid on defense, but their offense slowed as Chipola slowly crept back in, getting it to a one possession game at 68-65 with just under a minute remaining on the clock. The Bucs remained up two and had the ball after a stop with 35 seconds left and chose to try to take advantage of a two on one opportunity instead of milking the clock and it cost them.  The Bucs turned the ball over in transition and fouled the Indians sending them to the line.  Chipola hit both to make it a one point game and again, with time on their side, the Bucs elected to push the ball up the court and after a contested shot missed its mark, FSW found itself on defense trying to protect the one point lead.  The Bucs got a huge defensive stop on the ensuing possession and were fouled and hit one of two at the line to go up two with 13 seconds remaining. Chipola brought the ball up the court and FSW stood tall, forcing a desperation three with under a second left on the clock and it caught nothing but the bottom of the net, putting the Indians in front 70-69 with 0.7 seconds remaining.  The Bucs actually got a good look at the horn, but it glanced off the rim and Chipola went home with a one point victory to remain unbeaten on the season.  

 

The Bucs struggled offensively, shooting just 36% from inside the arc in the contest, but were able to hit on 44% from outside of it to remain in the game.  Dezdrick Lindsay scored a career high 19 on 7 of 11 shooting off the FSW bench while Brown was the only other player in double figures for the Bucs, finishing with 10 points, but just 5 rebounds to see his double-double streak snapped at eight.  

 

FSW falls to 8-4 on the year with the loss while Chipola remains unbeaten at 15-0. 

 

The Bucs will have one chance to get back in the win column before the holiday break as they take the floor in Winter Haven on Thursday when they take on the Polk State Eagles in a 7 PM tip with their old Suncoast Conference rivals.