FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got off to a hot start and then hung on for dear life late for a 69-66 Citrus Conference win over old Suncoast Conference rival St. Petersburg Saturday afternoon in Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers. 

 

The Bucs came out swinging early on, putting up 10 points in the first three minutes of the contest before getting back to back thunderous dunks on the inside from Jafeth Martinez to take a 14-6 lead on the Titans.  Moments later K'jei Parker found Martinez for an early two on the inside to make it 20-10 as the first half ticked under 13:00 remaining. The Bucs went cold from there, managing just two points over the next 3:30 as St. Petersburg crept back into the game, cutting the FSW lead to 22-18 at the midway point of the period. Five straight from Parker moments later gave the Bucs some breathing room, but another Titan run trimmed the FSW lead to just two at 37-35 with 3:03 to go in the half. The Bucs called their use it or lose it first half timeout and took full advantage of the stoppage, scoring the final seven points of the period to roll into the half leading 44-35. 

 

The second half didn't get off to quite the same start for the Bucs as St. Pete came out and scored the first six points of the half to cut the FSW lead to just three at 44-41. The Bucs answered the Titans six point run with one of their own, capped by an Ahmed Souhmahoro to Jeremy Innocent hookup to pad the lead back to nine at 50-41 with 16:00 to go. It looked like the Bucs were going to run away with things as Parker nailed a jumper at the midway point of the period to make it a 61-49 game, but St. Pete had other ideas as they went on a 7-0 burst to make it a two possession game once again with 7:09 to go. The score was stuck on pause at 65-56 for over three minutes, fine and dandy for the Bucs who held that nine point lead into the final three minutes of the contest. It was unpaused by a St. Pete field goal and unfortunately for the Bucs, for the second straight game, they couldn't buy a bucket late as FSW went the final 5:36 without a shot made from the field, with the Titans climbing all the way back to within three at 65-62 with 36 seconds to go. The Bucs were called for a five second violation on the ensuing inbounds and the Titans cashed it in for two points to make it a one point game with 26 seconds remaining. The Titans were forced to foul with the shot clock off and Parker stepped up to the line and hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds of the game before a Hail Mary half court heave by the Titans was off the mark to allow the Bucs to escape with a 69-66 victory. 

 

It was a tale of two halves offensively for FSW as they shot 47% in the first half with just seven turnovers while connecting on just 37% in the second half while coughing it up 16 times. 

 

Parker finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds for FSW in the win while Martinez had his best all around game as a Buccaneer with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots. 

 

The win is a big one for FSW who propels themselves solidly into the mix atop the Citrus Conference standings.  The Bucs improve to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in league action where they now sit in third place, a game and a half plus the tiebreaker up on St. Petersburg and Hillsborough. The Titans fall to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in conference action with the loss. 

 

The Bucs will wrap up a three game home stand on Wednesday when they take on Santa Fe in a 7 PM tip from Suncoast Credit Union Arena.