Raiders Win Season Opener Versus Copiah-Lincoln Thanks to Second Half Offensive Surge

NICEVILLE, FL – Northwest Florida State Men's basketball opened the 2024-25 season tonight at home against Copiah-Lincoln.

The Raiders did not get off to the fast start they were hoping for. The team shot a measly 26.5% from the floor, including an 0-11 clip from the three-point line, and hit on less than 50.0% of their free-throw attempts.

On the other side, the Wolves were giving the Raiders all they could handle. Although they didn't shoot well from three, hitting just one of seven attempts, they did connect on 40.0% of their makes and capitalized on six of eight attempts from the charity stripe.

The second half was much more favorable for the Raiders as they exploded for 50 points, hitting on 53.0% of their shot attempts. Although their turnover total increased from four in the first half to 14 in the second. The Raiders were able to overcome this deficiency by capitalizing on second chance points, scoring 22 points off offensive rebounds.

Josh Hayes and Braylon Roman finished the game as the Raiders' two leading scorers with 15 points each. Hayes also added second rebounds and two steals to his total, while Roman stole three possesions from the Wolves.

Davion Hill nearly had a double-double in his collegiate debut, connecting for ten points and nine rebounds. Curtis Williams also had a solid debut, scoring 12 points for the game.

For the Wolves Devon Bates and Javian Watkins had their way scoring the basket, each contributing 22 points in the box score. Dakotah Hillard was also effective, scoring 17 for his team in the loss.

First Half

• Copiah-Lincoln Community College opens the scoring with a layup by Hillard, assisted by D. Bates, making it 2-0.
• Braylon Roman ties the game at 2-2 with a dunk after a turnover by Copiah-Lincoln.
• Nathan Ojukwu makes two free throws, putting Northwest Florida State College ahead 4-2, followed by J. Watkins tying it at 4-4 with a layup.
• After Josh Hayes dunks for Northwest Florida, T. Melo-Garcia scores, giving Northwest Florida an 8-4 lead, before D. Bates ties it again at 8-8 with a layup.
• Watkins hits two free throws to lead 14-10, but Curtis Williams cuts it back to 14-12 with a layup.
• Roman ties the game at 14-14 with a dunk, leading to a timeout by Copiah-Lincoln.
• Watkins makes two more free throws to lead 16-14, while Kauan Raymundo ties it at 16-16 with two free throws.
• Copiah-Lincoln finishes strong with Bates and Watkins scoring consecutive layups, closing the game at 20-16.

Second Half

• The game resumed with Copiah-Lincoln leading 31-23, with both teams making several substitutions.
• Copiah-Lincoln's Hillard committed multiple fouls and turnovers early in the half, contributing to Northwest Florida's scoring opportunities.
• J. Hayes from Northwest Florida missed a key 3-point shot, but Dwayne Pierce quickly followed with a dunk, narrowing the gap to 35-26.
• Copiah-Lincoln's Bates made a significant 3-pointer, extending their lead to 40-32, while Northwest Florida's Williams responded with a 3-pointer of his own.
• A technical foul was called against Davion Hill of Northwest Florida, allowing Copiah-Lincoln to maintain momentum with a missed free throw by Bates.
• A series of turnovers by both teams occurred around the midpoint of the half, with both teams struggling to convert offensive opportunities.
• With the score at 48-53, Northwest Florida's Williams made two free throws, increasing their lead, while Copiah-Lincoln continued to miss shots.
• The half ended with Northwest Florida maintaining their lead, capitalizing on defensive rebounds and turnovers by Copiah-Lincoln.