NWF Bounces Back with Two Wins in Melbourne This Weekend
MELBOURNE, Florida – Following a challenging defeat against No. 10 Daytona State on Tuesday, Steve DeMeo and his team were eager for a rebound during their weekend trip to Melbourne, FL. Engaging in a pair of games for the JUCO Shootout hosted by Eastern Florida, Northwest Florida men's basketball faced off against Florida Southwestern and Hillsborough.
The Raiders indeed bounced back, clinching two victories over the weekend. They secured a hard-fought 74-67 win in overtime against the Buccaneers on Saturday, followed by a commanding 95-63 triumph over the Hawks on Sunday, elevating their record to 12-1 on the season.
SATURDAY
Florida Southwestern took charge in the opening half, capitalizing on NWF's slow offensive start to secure the lead. Undeterred, the Raiders battled back with resilient defense and tenacious rebounding, enabling Steve DeMeo's squad to reclaim the lead roughly ten minutes before halftime. They maintained this advantage, concluding the first half with a solid 37-28 lead over the Bucks as both teams retreated to the locker rooms.
The Raiders, entering the second half, asserted their dominance by establishing a double-digit lead. However, a late-game surge by the Bucs put the Raiders on the defensive, resulting in a lead change with under a minute remaining. NWF seized a pivotal possession with 14 seconds on the clock, providing them with a final opportunity. Tavion Banks, fouled during the inbound pass, demonstrated composure by sinking both free throws, knotting the score at 60.
In a decisive moment, the Bucs attempted a last-second three-pointer but fell short, thrusting the contest into overtime.
The Raiders opened the overtime period by converting their first two shots to secure a four-point lead. Despite a successful three-pointer by the Bucs, RaSheed Jones responded promptly with a clutch three from the wing, propelling the Raiders to a 67-63 lead. The team maintained this advantage for the remainder of the game, clinching a hard-fought 74-67 victory and notching their 11th win of the season.
SUNDAY
NWF launched into the game with a potent offensive display, connecting on five of their first eight shots, including a pair of threes from Rasheed Jones. This energetic start propelled them to a nine-point lead within the initial five minutes, eventually stretching it to a double-digit advantage over the Hawks with 12 minutes remaining in the half.
However, Hillsborough staged a formidable comeback, embarking on an 18-7 scoring run over the subsequent five minutes, drawing the game level at 27-27 with seven minutes left in the half.
Undeterred by Hillsborough's surge, the Raiders regained their momentum in the latter part of the half, executing a flurry of three-pointers and displaying robust defensive. This strategic approach enabled them to reestablish a double-digit lead, concluding the first half on a 16-3 run to claim a 45-32 advantage over Hillsborough.
The Raiders maintained their intensity in the second half, extending their lead to 21 points with an impressive 11-3 run to kick off the final period. The Hawks faced challenges in generating effective offensive responses, unlike their performance in the first half. The Raiders continued to pressure Hillsborough into challenging shots and fought aggressively for rebounds, emphasizing the physical style that has characterized their play over the first month of the season.
Ultimately, NWF proved to be too much for Hillsborough to handle today, as the Raiders commanded control on both ends of the court in the second half. They cruised to a decisive 95-63 victory, securing their 12th win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Raiders are back at home for a pair of games next weekend as they get set to host Copiah-Lincoln (Dec. 8) and Eastern Florida (Dec. 9) from Raider Arena.
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