TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers battled hard in their second game in less than 24 hours Saturday afternoon in the Florida Juco Shootout in Tallahassee, but came up short in the end, dropping an 81-76 decision to the host Eagles to fall to 5-3 on the year. 

 

After playing Friday night in Jacksonville and making the trip over to Tallahassee for the early tip Saturday, the Bucs had some bus legs early on against the Eagles, managing just two buckets over the first six minutes of the contest to fall behind early 10-4. The Bucs deficit grew to 19-9 midway through the half and it was 27-16 Eagles at the 8:00 mark of the first. Ahmed Soumahoro drove to the basket and scored to stop the Tallahassee momentum and Chol Machot slammed one home to make it a seven point game, but the Bucs couldn't keep it going as they managed just two points over the final 3:55 of the half and went to the break down 35-26. 

 

Tallahassee stretched their lead to 14 early in the second half, but just when it looked like the Bucs were in trouble, they started to push back. Five quick points from Soumahoro got the Bucs back on track and a two handed slam from Jeremy Innocent made it a seven point game at 47-40 with 14:29 to go. The Bucs continued to push, drawing to within two before a pair of Breno Silva free throws tied the game at 49 with 12:23 remaining. The Bucs crashed the offensive glass and got a second and then third opportunity to take the lead, eventually cashing it in with a foul and two more free throws to take their first lead of the game at 51-49. The teams went back and forth to a 57-57 deadlock with exactly 9:00 to go, but Tallahassee scored the next five to move back in front. The Bucs hit a wall midway through the second, going nearly five minutes without a field goal as a two point lead turned into a nine point deficit at 68-59. FSW cut it to a three point game late, but couldn't get any closer as Tallahassee salted the game away at the free throw line for an 81-76 win. 

 

The Bucs couldn't overcome a hot shooting Tallahassee bunch in the Eagles home gym as TSC shot 55% from the field and 53% from three while FSW hit on just 41% from the field and 33% from deep. Soumahoro led the Bucs with 17 points on 7-14 shooting while Innocent had 15 points and 7 rebounds and Silva added 15 off the Buccaneer bench. 

 

The Bucs fall for the third time in their past four games after a 4-0 start as they drop to 5-3 on the year while Tallahassee improves to 9-3. 

 

The Bucs return home for two more games before the Holiday Break, hosting #22 Monroe Friday at 7 PM before rounding out the first half against Victory Rock Prep Saturday afternoon at 4.