ALBANY, Ga.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers used a dominating effort on the glass to come away with a 68-57 win over Lurleen B. Wallace in their 2024-2025 season opener on the road in Georgia on Thursday.  The win, the first of the Darrin Wallace Era for the Bucs, was secured thanks to a +25 mark in the rebounding category and a balanced scoring attack that included four players in double figures for FSW. 

 

With both teams playing for the first time this season, it took a while for either side to find an offensive flow as FSW led things just 16-12 midway through the first half. The Bucs made up for their struggles with a strong effort on the glass, using a number of second chance opportunities to build their lead up to eight before the half at 35-27. The Bucs cleared the boards on 19 of 20 defensive opportunities in the first half while collecting an offensive rebound and second chance on nearly 50% of their possessions on the other end. 

 

The Bucs used their size advantage on the inside to open up their lead as the second half got underway, flexing their muscles to take a 19 point advantage with under 10 minutes to go. The Saints showed some life with their backs to the wall, but their comeback hopes were dashed late when a thunderous Chol Machot slam put FSW back up double digits and that was all she wrote as the Bucs closed out a 68-57 victory to give first year Head Coach Darrin Wallace his first win at FSW.  

 

It wasn't an offensive show for either side as both the Bucs and Saints shot under 50% on the afternoon while FSW managed to cash in just 45% of their free throw attempts. The Bucs won the game in the paint where they outrebounded LB Wallace 56-31 including 20 offensive rebounds.  Machot led the Bucs with 16 points and 8 rebounds in his FSW debut while the Bucs lone returner, Ahmed Soumahoro, had 12 points to start his sophomore campaign. 

 

It will be a quick turnaround for the Bucs who return to the court at noon on Friday in a matinee affair against the host Albany Tech Trojans.