AMERICUS, Ga.- The #8 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were stunned 61-56 on the road Friday night by South Georgia Tech in the 2023 Jet Classic in Americus, Georgia. FSW managed to shoot just 38% from the field and shot a dreadful 5-13 from the free throw line in the defeat.  

 

It was a defensive battle from the tip as both the Bucs and the Jets tried unsuccessfully to get their offenses flowing. South Georgia Tech led 6-5 at the first media timeout and pushed their lead to three at 13-10 at the midway point of the first half.  The Bucs took their first lead of the game with just over 6:00 remaining in the first when Karmani Gregory nailed a three to put FSW up 21-18 and the Bucs defense held the advantage from there as FSW went to the locker rooms at half leading the Jets 28-26. 

 

Not much changed as the second half began as the Bucs and Jets both continued to struggle to put the ball in the basket.  South Georgia Tech retook a 41-40 lead midway through the half and stayed a step ahead of the Bucs until Jaehshon Thomas finished a smooth reverse layup in the lane to knot the score at 54 with 3:00 to go.  The Jets responded right away to go back ahead and the Bucs could never level the score again as South Georgia Tech sealed it 61-56 at the free throw line to come away with the upset win.  

 

The Bucs shot just 38% from the field on the night and were just 5-13 (39%) from the free throw line. FSW turned it over 19 times leading to 23 South Georgia Tech points on the night.  Dezdrick Lindsay led the way in his 2023-2024 debut, posting a 15 point, 10 rebound double-double for FSW.  

 

FSW falls to 1-1 on the year while South Georgia Tech improves to 3-1. 

 

The Bucs will look to get back on the winning track Saturday when they take on East Georgia State, who lost an overtime battle with Coastal Alabama on Friday.