Raiders Ready for New York Showdown in Season’s First Road Challenge

GAME 5

Nov. 15 | #3 Northwest Florida vs. Harcum | 4:00 PM CDT | New Rochelle, NY

GAME 6

Nov. 16 | #3 Northwest Florida vs. Monroe | 2:00 PM CDT | New Rochelle, NY

STREAM LINK: YouTube.com/MonroeMustangs

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Following a strong 4-0 start to the 2024-25 season, Northwest Florida State men's basketball is preparing for its next test: their first road games of the year.

The Raiders are headed to the Monroe University Invitational in New Rochelle, N.Y., where they'll face Harcum on Friday, Nov. 15, at 4:00 p.m. CDT, followed by the host school Monroe on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2:00 p.m. CDT.

After two impressive wins last weekend at Raider Arena—defeating Southern Union 93-52 and then toppling #3 Daytona (now ranked #23) 88-83—the Raiders are eager to keep their undefeated streak alive with two more victories in coach DeMeo's home state.

FAST BREAKS

• Northwest Florida jumped up three spots – from six to three – in this week's NJCAA Rankings. They also moved to the top spot in the FCSAA coaches' poll, overtaking Daytona State.
• The Raiders are a tall, athletic squad with a talent for scoring, averaging 89.3 points per game, thanks to their selfless play. They rank 20th nationally in assists per game (21.8) and are 27th in NET efficiency (0.345) through four games, outscoring opponents by an average of 26 points per game.
• The Raiders are also efficient from the field, shooting 52.5% as a team, which ranks 17th nationally.
• Five Raiders are currently averaging double figures in scoring: Dwayne Pierce (14.0), Curtis Williams (12.5), Braylon Roman (12.0), Josh Hayes (10.5), and Nathan Ojukwu (10.3).
• The Raiders boasts two dominant big men who excel in rebounding and shot blocking. Kauan Raymundo leads with 6.8 rebounds per game, while Josh Hayes follows with 5.8 rebounds per game. Both players are also averaging over one block per game, showcasing their defensive prowess in the paint.

TRENDING UPWARD

Ninth-year head coach Steve DeMeo has excelled in recruiting and coaching this fresh lineup to embody the identity of his previous teams. The Raiders have started strong with a 4-0 record. In the season's opening week, they secured a 74-64 victory over Copiah Lincoln and followed with a dominant 102-54 win against South Georgia Tech. In week two, the Raiders continued their momentum, defeating Southern Union 93-52 and then edging out the No. 3 ranked Daytona State in an 88-83 thriller.

Their strong start has propelled the Raiders to a No. 3 ranking in the latest NJCAA National Poll, just behind South Plains (TX) and Barton (KS). They also moved past Daytona in the FCSAA coaches' poll, claiming the top position in this week's rankings.

RETURNING FOR THE RAIDERS

• Steve DeMeo returns for his ninth season at Northwest Florida, marking his third year in his second stint with the Raiders.
• The Raiders head into the 2024-25 season with an entirely new roster, as no players from last season's lineup will be returning. The only returning players, Tyrese-Melo Garcia and Gabriel Martinez, both redshirted last season.
• The team welcomes several NCAA Division I transfers aiming to make an immediate impact, including Davion Hill (Missouri State), Logan Bourgeois (East Carolina), Curtis Williams (Pepperdine), Josh Hayes (Appalachian State), Nathan Ojukwu (Illinois-Chicago), and Dwayne Pierce (Iowa State).

TEAM LEADERS