DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- For 28 minutes, the #19 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers went toe to toe with the #5 Gulf Coast State Commodores Friday afternoon in Daytona Beach.  Unfortunately for the Bucs, a six minute stretch after that did them in as Gulf Coast went on a 23-4 run that FSW could never recover from as the Commodores went on to win 72-65.  

 

In a rematch of last season's Region VIII Tournament first round game, the Bucs and Commodores played just about even through the first five minutes with FSW leading it 6-5 at the first media timeout. Gulf Coast scored the next seven straight to take their first lead of the game at 12-6, but the Bucs played them even from there for the next four minutes to make it 18-13 Gulf Coast after 10 minutes of action. 

 

On the back of Macarena Retamales, the Bucs slowly worked their way back into the game in the second as back to back buckets from the sophomore made it a three point game before a jumper late in the half from Aaliyah Williams made it a one point contest at the break, 32-31.  

 

The Bucs quickly tied the game at 39 early in the second half when Natalia Tondi connected on a jumper and FSW took the lead back with 3:03 to go in the third when Blessing King corraled a rebound and stuffed it back in to make it 46-43.  Just when it looked like the Bucs had the momentum on their side, a bucket and an FSW turnover and three pointer from the Commodores quickly put Gulf Coast back in front and they headed to the fourth with a 51-46 lead after scoring the final eight of the period.  

 

Gulf Coast continued their run as the fourth quarter began, eventually stretching their lead all the way to 66-50 after holding the Bucs with just one field goal over a nearly eight minute stretch.  The Bucs showed some fight, drawing back to within seven late, but that is as close as they would get as Gulf Coast dribbled out a 72-65 victory to send the Bucs to their second straight defeat. 

 

The Bucs shot 48% from the field in the contest and won the rebounding battle by 10, but it was 23 turnovers, including 7 during Gulf Coast's fourth quarter run that did them in. Retamales and Williams scored 18 a piece in the loss while King returned from an early season injury to pace FSW with a game high 12 rebounds.  

 

FSW drops their second straight to fall to 5-4 on the season while Gulf Coast remains unbeaten at 8-0. 

 

The Bucs won't have much time to lick their wounds as they are right back at it on Saturday when they take on #9 and red hot Eastern Florida State at noon after the Titans defeated #4 Northwest Florida 62-53 Friday afternoon.