FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #25 Indian River State Pioneers came into Thursday's Southern Conference battle with the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers the hottest team in the state of Florida, riding an eight game winning streak.  The Bucs quickly let Indian River know that streak wasn't going to hit nine, jumping out to a 20-8 lead to begin the game before blowing the Pioneers away in the second half for a 96-66 win to put themselves right back into the middle of the FCSAA playoff picture with three regular season games left to go.  

 

The Bucs were flying all over the court early on, coming at the Pioneers from all angles to jump out to a 13-3 lead to begin the contest. A layup on the inside from Jemal Davis pushed the Bucs lead to a dozen midway through the period and after a mini run by the Pioneers, back to back threes from Bradley Douglas and Jadrian Tracey made it a 12 point game once again at 33-21 with 6:12 remaining in the first half.  The Bucs continued to push and with time winding down on the first half, Dezdrick Lindsay nailed a three from the corner, sending FSW to the locker rooms at the half with all of the momentum and a 47-31 lead.  

 

Early in the second half Tracey ran down a long rebound and punched it home on the break on the other end to stretch the Bucs lead to 20 and moments later AJ Hopkins scored in the paint to make it a 58-34 game in favor of FSW with 17:12 to go.  A three from Jemal Davis and a slam on the inside from Tyson Brown gave the Bucs their largest lead to that point in the game at 69-43 and FSW continued to hold a big cushion through the middle of the period, keeping a 25 point lead at 82-57 with 4:22 to go.  It was showtime for the Bucs in the final four minutes as Lindsay found Davis for an alley oop before Tracey did the same with Brown to make it a 30 point game with under 2:00 to go. Wesley Oba flushed one home for good meature in the closing minute before the Bucs dribbled out a 96-66 win at the final horn. 

 

It was the most complete game of the season for FSW who shot 57% from the field while holding the Pioneers to just 30% shooting and outrebounding Indian River 51-37.  The Bucs took advantage of the Pioneers helter skelter defensive style to score a season high 42 fast break points and 54 points in the painted area.  

 

Five Bucs scored in double figures, led by Tracey who flirted with the Bucs first regulation triple-double in program history with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in the win while Lindsay had 18 and 7 rebounds and Brown chalked up a 17 point, 10 rebound double-double. 

 

The win is a key one for FSW who climbs back to within a half game of the third potential playoff spot from the conference as they improve to 16-8 overall and 4-5 in Southern Conference play on the season. Indian River's title hopes are put on pause for the meantime as they fall to 21-6 overall and 7-2 in conference action. 

 

The Bucs have another big one on the schedule on Monday when they travel to Miami to take on Miami Dade in a 7:30 tip from the Shark Tank. Miami Dade is just one game ahead of FSW for second place in the league standings with three games left to go.