Posted: Feb 24, 2024
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Jaehshon Thomas and Tyrone Baker combined for 43 points as the #24 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers won their fourth straight game Saturday afternoon in a 79-57 romp over the visiting Santa Fe Saints at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.
It was a slow start for both sides as the Bucs and Saints combined for just nine points in the first 4:30 of the game and it was just 8-7 Santa Fe at the 12:30 mark of the first. It was a 13-11 game in favor of FSW at the midway point of the half when the Bucs began to take over. A thunderous dunk from Tyrone Baker got them started on a 10-0 run to go up by a dozen and moments later Baker dished off to Reis Jones for a dunk of his own to make it 27-14 FSW with 6:31 to go in the half. The teams played even over the next six minutes before a Saint three before the break made it 37-27 FSW at the end of 20 minutes of action.
Santa Fe lulled the Bucs to sleep early in the second half, cutting the FSW lead to seven and then all the way down to just four at 44-40 at the 14 minute mark. A timeout woke the Bucs up and out of a timeout Dezdrick Lindsay found Yvens Paul for a two handed slam and two possessions later Jaehshon Thomas drilled a three to quickly make it a 10 point game again at 50-40. Thomas knocked down another triple to cushion the lead to 15 and a drive down the lane and huge slam from Baker made it a 61-45 game with 8:36 remaining. Santa Fe made a push to get back to within 13, but they never got any closer as another Thomas three put the nail in the Saints coffin and the Bucs went on to win it 79-57 for their 11th conference win of the year.
The Bucs shot an efficient 53% from the field in the win while hitting on 11 of 22 three point attempts. The only thing that held the Bucs back were 19 turnovers which Santa Fe turned into 20 points on the night. Individually Thomas led the Bucs with 23 points off the bench while Baker added 20 points and 7 rebounds for FSW.
FSW wins it's fourth straight to improve to 21-6 overall and 11-2 in Citrus Conference play with the victory while Santa Fe falls to 10-17 overall and 2-11 in league action.
The Bucs will be back in action on Wednesday when they head to Miami to take on Miami Dade in a 7:30 tip in the Shark Tank.