Posted: Jan 11, 2025
TAMPA, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers tightened up the screws on the defensive end, holding the Hillsborough Hawks to nearly 30 points under their season scoring average for a 58-57 win in Citrus Conference play Saturday afternoon in Tampa.
The pace early on was right about what was expected as two of the top scoring teams in the state hooked up. FSW and Hillsborough traded blows to a 21-21 deadlock midway through the first half before the Bucs put the clamps on the Hawks offense, allowing just four points over the final eight minutes of the period to take a 32-25 lead into the break.
The teams played even through the first nine minutes of the second half as FSW remained up eight after a floater from Abdoulaye Konate made it 50-42 with 10:10 remaining in the ballgame. It looked like it was going to be smooth sailing to the finish line for the Bucs as they led it by 10 with under 5:00 to go, but Hillsborough came roaring back to cut the lead to one in the final minute before a last second three point attempt by the Hawks rolled off the rim as FSW hung on for a 58-57 win.
The Bucs snap a three game losing streak to improve to 8-6 overall while picking up their first conference win of the year to get back to even at 1-1 in Citrus Conference action. Hillsborough falls to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in league play with the defeat.
FSW returns home for the first of three straight in Suncoast Credit Union Arena on Wednesday when they host Polk State in a 5 PM tip from Fort Myers.
