FORT MYERS, Fla.- For three quarters, it was a grind for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Monday night in their 2020-2021 regular season finale against DME Academy.  Thankfully the Bucs woke up in the fourth quarter, lighting the scoreboard up for 35 points to come from behind and finish off an 80-62 win to improve to 13-5 on the year.  

 

It was a dreadfully slow start for the Bucs who managed just five points through the first 8:35 of the contest, falling behind DME 9-5 to start the ballgame.  A lay in from Ronaltha Marc got the Bucs back to within to and Patience Williams scored on the break to tie the score at 9, but a late bucket from DME put FSW in a two point hole after one, 11-9.  

 

The Bucs woke up and tied the score before pushing ahead by six, 19-13 midway through the second quarter.  Back to back threes for DME tied the score and it remained a tie game moments later at 22-22 with 3:07 to go in the half.  Sariana Rodriguez connected from distance to put the Bucs back ahead and after 20 minutes of action FSW held a one point lead 27-26 going into the locker rooms at the break. 

 

FSW got things rolling to start the second half and extended their lead to nine with 3:05 to go in the quarter.  Just when it looked like they turned the corner, DME came roaring back, outscoring FSW 13-2 to erase the Bucs advantage and take a one point lead of their own after three, 46-45. 

 

With their backs to the wall, the Bucs picked up the pressure in the fourth and it worked to perfection.  FSW scored the first 13 of the fourth quarter, highlighted by a pair of threes from Marc to open up their largest lead to that point in the game at 58-46.  DME got it back to single digits with 4:53 to go, but they wouldn't get any closer as the Bucs padded their lead to 74-57 as Patience Williams ran the break and got an easy two before FSW finished it off 80-62 at the final horn.  

 

Five Bucs scored in double figures led by Williams off the bench with 16.  Tashun Bryson had 14  while Tyshone Tollie, Sheslanie Laureano, and Marc each had a dozen.  

 

The Bucs close the regular season 13-5.  

 

FSW will be back in action on Wednesday, April 7th when they travel to Niceville to play in the FCSAA State Tournament hosted by Northwest Florida State.  Pairings for the seeded tournament will come out later this week.