ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The #19 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers went blow for blow with the defending National Champion Northwest Florida State Raiders Friday afternoon in their 2021-2022 season opener in St. Petersburg, but came up one bucket short, falling 46-45 in the final minute of the Florida Juco Shootout. 

 

The Bucs got off to a good start, holding the Raiders to just eight first quarter points to take a 15-8 lead after 10 minutes of play. The pace picked up in the second with Northwest Florida cutting into the Bucs advantage, but FSW still went to the locker room leading by five, 27-22.  

 

The Bucs outshot the Raiders 43% to 33% in the first half, but struggled at the free throw line, hitting on just 7 of 13 attempts, which would come back to bite them in the end.  

 

FSW came out ice cold in the second half, managing just five points as their five point lead turned into a nine point deficit at the end of three.  The Bucs didn't stop fighting though, slowly working their way back into the game before tying the score at 45 with just under a minute to go.  The Bucs got a big stop on the defensive end and had the ball with 45 seconds to go, but turned it over out of a timeout to give the Raiders the upper hand.  Northwest was able to hit one of two free throws on the ensuing possession and the Bucs committed their 24th and final turnover of the game their next time down the floor, sealing the win for Northwest Florida 46-45.  

 

The Bucs shot just 29% in the second half and finished the game at 36% overall while going 10-18 at the free throw line. Tyshonne Tollie was the lone FSW player to finish in double figures in scoring, going for 10 points and 6 rebounds in the loss.  

 

FSW will look to bounce back tomorrow when they return to the shootout on Saturday when they take on St. Petersburg in a 4 PM tip.