MELBOURNE, Fla.- Despite early foul trouble just three minutes into Wednesday night's game against the #21 Eastern Florida State Titans, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers battled for 40 minutes but were unable to get over the hump as they fell 68-63 to drop to 12-8 on the year. 

 

Points were at a premium early on as FSW and Eastern combined for just 21 points in the first seven minutes Wednesday night with the Titans getting out to a 12-9 advantage at the 13:00 mark of the first. With both big men in foul trouble early on, the Bucs continued to fight, but their deficit grew to 24-19 by the under eight media timeout. A 9-4 run by the Bucs, capped by a three from K'jei Parker, tied the game at 28 with 3:41 to go in the half but Eastern regained the lead in the final four minutes and went to the break leading the Bucs 32-30. 

 

The Titans were the aggressors out of the break and upped their lead to seven early on. The Bucs kept fighting, trimming it back to a three point game at 44-41 with 12:00 to go, but the tug of war continued as Eastern Florida pulled out in front before the Bucs reeled them back in time after time. It was a 54-49 game with 5:00 to go, but the Bucs could never get over the hump, continually drawing to within one possession, but never able to even things up as Eastern Florida went on to take it 68-63 at the final horn. 

 

Parker was the lone FSW player to reach double figures in scoring, finishing with 14 in the loss. 

 

The Bucs drop their second straight, both to Top 25 ranked opponents, to fall to 12-6 overall and 5-3 in Citrus Conference play while Eastern Florida wins their fourth straight to improve to 19-3 overall and 8-1 in league action. 

 

FSW is back in action next week at Suncoast Credit Union Arena when they host the Hillsborough Hawks in a 7 PM tip on Wednesday in Fort Myers.