MIAMI, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers turned up the screws defensively and toughed out a 79-56 road win in a hostile environment at Miami Dade Monday night for their third straight win to put themselves right back in the thick of things in the race for a playoff spot in the upcoming Region VIII Tournament. 

 

Things certainly didn't get off to the script the Bucs drew up before the game in the first three minutes as Miami Dade came out on fire, hitting each of their first four shots to take a quick 8-0 lead.  The Bucs slowly worked their way back into the game, drawing to within two on an old fashioned three point play from Bradley Douglas and taking their first lead of the night in emphatic fashion with 3:52 to go in the half when Dezdrick Lindsay slashed and dished to Wesley Oba for a two handed slam to put the Bucs in front 29-28 late in the half.  The Bucs didn't let up there, extending their lead on a turnaround jumper from Jordan Mitchell before Jemal Davis beat the first half horn and was fouled with under a second remaining to give FSW a 38-32 lead and the momentum into the break at half. 

 

Early in the second half Mitchell picked off a pass and threw it ahead to Lindsay for a one handed slam to push the Bucs lead to double digits for the first time and at the under 15 media timeout in the second, FSW led it by a dozen, 50-38. Miami Dade went on a 7-0 run to cut it back to a two possession game, but back to back threes from Davis and Jadrian Tracey made it an 11 point game once again in the blink of an eye. The Sharks made one last push to get back into it, but the Bucs were having none of that as they finished the game on a 17-3 run, blowing the game open and sending a boisterous crowd running for the exits early as they dribbled out a 79-56 victory. 

 

Tracey led the Bucs with his third 20+ point game in FSW's last four outings, scoring a game high 23 while also notching a double-double with 11 rebounds.  Lindsay had his best effort of conference play, going for 18 on 6-11 shooting while Davis added 14 off the Bucs bench. Mitchell scored just two points, but dished out 8 assists and had just 1 turnover while posting a team best +26 plus/minus in 23 minutes of work. 

 

FSW wins their third straight to improve to 17-8 overall and 5-5 in Southern Conference action which puts them in a third place tie with the Sharks with two games to go. Miami Dade drops to 16-12 overall. 

 

The Bucs biggest game of the season awaits them on Thursday as they host State College of Florida in a battle for second place in the conference standings.  The Bucs and Manatees will tip off at 7 PM in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. For more information or for tickets, go to FSWBucs.com.