TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers suffered another frustrating loss Friday night in Florida's state capital, watching as a last second shot missed it's mark and sent the Bucs to a 61-60 defeat at the hands of the Gulf Coast State Commodores to drop them to 7-4 on the year.  

 

Points were at a premium early on between the Bucs and Commodores as a steal and slam from Dezdrick Lindsay put FSW up 6-5 five minutes in and the two teams found themselves deadlocked at 10 midway through the first.  Down one with just over 5:00 left in the half Jaehshon Thomas drove to the lane and threw one up to the hoop and Tyrone Baker hammered it home with a two handed slam to put the Bucs in front 20-19. That was the end of the offensive highlights for FSW in the first half as Gulf Coast finished the period on a 10-3 run, erasing the Bucs lead and taking a six point lead of their own into the locker rooms at 29-23. 

 

The Bucs found something at the break as their offense finally started to flow as the second period began, working their way back into the game and then took a lead of their own as Baker found Yvens Paul for a fast break slam to put the Purple and Aqua up 38-36 with 14:00 to go.  But just when it looked like things were headed in the right direction for FSW, another roadblock popped up in the middle of the road as the Bucs managed just three points over the next 6:15 as Gulf Coast retook the lead and pushed it to eight at 49-41 with under 8:00 left in the contest. A pair of threes from Cole Franklin drew the Bucs back to within two and a two handed slam from Reis Jones put FSW on top once again with under 3:00 to go. Gulf Coast pushed back ahead, but the Bucs got a stop to give themselves a chance in the final minute of play.  Down one with 30 seconds to go, the Bucs drove down and couldn't get a shot to fall and were forced to send the Commodores to the line after Gulf Coast secured the rebound. The Bucs got a second life as Gulf Coast missed the front end of the one and one, but a last second shot was off the mark and the Bucs fell by one, 61-60 to begin the TCC Classic.  

 

The Bucs outshot the Commodores 45% to 39% in the game, but were plagued by 17 turnovers in the loss. Lindsay led the Bucs with 19 points in the defeat while Franklin chipped in 12 off the bench.  

 

FSW falls to 7-4 on the season with their three regulation losses coming by a total of nine points and their other loss coming in overtime. Gulf Coast improves to 10-4 on the season with the victory. 

 

Things won't get any easier for the Bucs on Saturday as they take on 2023 Final Four participant Tallahassee in a noon tip from the TCC Gymnasium.