Raiders Set to Close Regular Season At Gulf Coast Saturday

Game 29

#9 Northwest Florida State (24-4) at Gulf Coast (17-12)

March 2, 2024 | 4:00 PM (CST) | Panama City, FL

Links: Live Stream

TIP-OFF  

Northwest Florida State men's basketball will wrap up their regular season on the road Saturday as they travel to Panama City to take on Gulf Coast. The Raiders aim to end the regular season on a positive note, carrying momentum into the State/Region 8 tournament in two weeks. Additionally, they seek to enhance their seeding in the tournament by clinching a share of the Panhandle Conference Championship on Saturday.

To achieve this, the Raiders must secure a victory over Gulf Coast and hope for a loss by Chipola against Tallahassee on the same day. This outcome would result in both the Raiders and Indians being crowned as Conference Champions. 

STATE TOURNAMENT PASSES ON SALE

The 2024 FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Basketball Tournament is just around the corner, and fans now have the opportunity to purchase tournament passes. NWF and Raider Arena are thrilled to host the tournament for the fifth consecutive year. Mark your calendars for March 13-16 to experience the excitement as top teams from the Panhandle and Citrus conferences compete for a shot at advancing to the NJCAA National Tournament. Secure your tournament pass for $40 at our Region 8 website https://nwfraiders.com/tournaments/Region8Tourney.

LAST TIME OUT

The Raiders capped off their final home game with an authoritative 75-51 triumph over Pensacola on Wednesday at Raider Arena.

It was a collective effort from the entire team, with every player contributing points for Steve DeMeo's squad. On sophomore night, it was fitting that four sophomores led the scoring charge for the Raiders. Tajuan Simpkins and Jadyn Shider led the way, with Simpkins tallying 15 points and Shider notching 12, along with an impressive eight rebounds and six assists. Jamal Sumlin and Tyrese Elliott also made significant contributions with 11 points each, complemented by rebounds and assists.

The Raiders dominated the paint, with 48 of their points coming from inside, enabling them to shoot over 50.0% from the field compared to Pensacola's subpar 40.0%. Fast break points were another crucial element in the Raiders' success, outscoring Pensacola 16-5 in that department. 

PANHANDLE CONFERENCE STANDINGS

 *Clinched Tournament Birth

For complete coverage of Northwest Florida State Athletics, visit nwfraiders.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Northwest Florida Raiders), Instagram (@nwfraiders) and X (@NWFRaiders)

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