Posted: Nov 18, 2022
GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The #18 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers squared off with the #13 Eastern Florida State Titans in an early season Top 20 matchup Friday afternoon in Gainesville. Jayla Murray poured in a game high 23 points for the Bucs, but outside of Murray's effort, FSW shot just 27% from the floor, dropping a 74-54 decision to fall to 4-2 on the year.
The Bucs got off to a slow start, managing just four points in the first five minutes of the contest, falling behind 10-4 in the process, but they turned it on from there, scoring the final 11 points of the quarter to take an 18-17 lead after one period of action.
Tied at 20 early in the second quarter, a 7-0 run by the Titans put Eastern in front 27-20 with 6:30 to go in the half. The Titans upped their lead to as many as a dozen before going to the locker rooms up 41-32 after 20 minutes of play.
A bucket on the inside from Jayla Murray early in the second half got the Bucs back to within seven, but it was short lived as Eastern quickly cushioned their lead back to double digits at 52-39 with 3:34 to go in the third. The Titans went up by as many as 15 before a late two by Kiana Wilson made it a 57-45 game as the teams went to the fourth.
The Bucs never threatened again as an early three from the Titans put the game out of reach and Eastern held FSW without a point for the final 2:30 of the game as they dribbled out a 74-54 win to send the Bucs to their second defeat in their last three contests.
It wasn't a pretty offensive effort for the Bucs who shot just 31% as a team while hitting on just 28% from three and 58% from the free throw line. Murray led all scorers with 23 points and also added 9 rebounds while no other Bucs found their way into double figures in the loss.
FSW falls to 4-2 overall on the year while Eastern Florida remains perfect at 5-0.
The Bucs will look to get back on the winning track on Saturday as they take on Santa Fe in a 2 PM maintee tip from Gainesville.