MIAMI, Fla.- Despite turning it over 26 times and allowing 13 offensive rebounds, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers had a chance to win Saturday afternoon in the Jim Cox Classic in Miami, but couldn't get a last second stop as Southern Union State used a pair of offensive boards and three opportunities to score to clip the Bucs 85-84 at the buzzer to send FSW to their second straight loss.   

 

Unlike their game Friday against Central Georgia Tech, the Bucs got off to a slow start in their contest Saturday against Southern Union State, falling behind 8-2 four minutes in. They figured things out from there as back to back finishes on the inside from Jeremy Innocent capped a 9-2 FSW run to give the Bucs their first lead of the afternoon at 11-10.  The teams traded the lead back and forth to a 23-23 deadlock when Breno Silva found Jafeth Martinez for a two handed slam to put the Bucs back in front 25-23 with 8:30 to go in the first. Another high flying finish from Ahmed Souhmahoro moments later pushed the Bucs lead to five, but a 7-1 run over the next four minutes had Southern Union back in front 32-31. It remained a one point game into the final seconds of the half when a jumper fell for the Bison to give them a 40-37 lead into the break. 

 

The Bucs came out on fire in the second half, scoring the first 10 points of the period to flip the script and take a 47-40 lead.  They stretched the lead to 11 on a highlight reel putback dunk from Souhmahoro with 15:06 to go.  Southern Union trimmed the Bucs lead to four with 11:14 remaining and continued their run, taking the lead back at 64-63 two minutes later. The Bucs remained down one at the under 8 media timeout when Eugene Alvin came out of the break and knocked down a three to give them the lead back, 70-68 with 7:25 to go.  FSW padded their lead to four on an offensive rebound and putback from Martinez, but the Bison charged back, scoring the next nine in a row, turning a four point Buc lead into a five point lead for themselves at 79-74 with 3:02 to go. Alvin nailed another huge triple to tie the score at 79 with 2:10 to go and Breno Silva followed suit after a Bison three to make it 82-82 with 1:38 left in regulation. The game went into the final minute still tied at 82 when Southern Union split a pair of free throws to take a one point lead.  With 21 seconds remaining Parker found Martinez for a thunderous slam to give FSW a 84-83 lead.  It looked like the Bucs were going to escape with a win as the Bison missed a jumper with 8 seconds remaining, but FSW couldn't clear the class and Southern Union got not two, but a third shot at the win which fell as the horn sounded to sink the Bucs 85-84. 

 

The Bucs lost despite shooting 55% from the field and 40% from the three point line while outscoring the Bison 20-8 at the free throw line.  The difference was turnovers as FSW gave it away 26 times and allowed the Bison 13 offensive rebounds while turned into 14 more field goal attempts than the Bucs had in the contest.  Martinez posted a 16 point, 12 rebound double-double off the bench while going a perfect 6-6 from the field and Alvin had a career high 17 points in the losing effort. 

 

The Bucs drop their second straight to fall to 4-2 on the year while Southern Union bounces back from a loss to Miami Dade Friday to improve to 7-3.  

 

The Bucs continue a four game road trip next weekend when they travel to Florida State College at Jacksonville Friday before a trip to the State Capital Saturday to take on Tallahassee in a matinee tip.