Strong Offensive Performance Leads Raiders to 90-65 Victory Over Southern Union

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Returning to Raider Arena for the first time in nearly a month, the Northwest Florida State Raiders delivered a dominant performance, earning back-to-back wins with a 90-65 victory over Southern Union.

The Raiders' offense was in top form, shooting 50.0% in the first half and an even better 55.6% in the second, finishing the game with an impressive 52.5% overall from the field. The team controlled the paint, scoring a majority of their points inside, while also capitalizing at the free-throw line, going 22-for-31 from the stripe.

Northwest Florida set the tone early, taking the lead in the first half with second-chance opportunities and a timely three-pointer. Southern Union briefly tied the game at nine with just under 15 minutes remaining in the half, but a 12-2 run by the Raiders over the next five minutes gave them a commanding 15-point advantage.

From there, the Raiders didn't look back. By consistently breaking down the Bison's defense and attacking the interior, Northwest Florida scored 24 of their 41 first-half points in the paint, heading into the locker room with a 41-28 lead.

The second half saw the Bison improve offensively, shooting 38.9% compared to 28.6% in the first. Southern Union found some success inside and at the free-throw line, briefly cutting the deficit to seven points early in the half.

However, the Raiders maintained their composure, controlling the boards and continuing to score at will inside. Transition points became a key factor as Northwest Florida extended their lead to double digits with 14:18 remaining. The Raiders' relentless offensive pressure widened the gap, building a 21-point advantage with just over three minutes to play.

By the final buzzer, the Raiders had secured a decisive 25-point victory, improving to 7-3 on the season and closing out their 2024 home slate on a high note.

KEY CONTRIBUTERS

• Four Raiders eclipsed double figure scoring numbers for the game: Curtis Williams (14), Josh Hayes (13), Braylon Roman (11), Tyrese Melo-Garcia (10).
• Josh Hayes led the team with six rebounds. Tyrese Melo-Garica, Nathan Ojukwu, and Kauan Raymundo followed with five rebounds each.
• Braylon Roman was a menace on defense, recording four steals in the game.
• Curtis Williams and Josh Hayes each recorded a pair of blocks.
• All five starters for Southern Union finished the game in double-figures: Mensah (15), Dennis (11), Francis (10), Davis (10), and Powell (10).

NUMBERS TO NOTE

• Northwest Florida shot 52.5% clip from the field tonight; the fifth time they've surpassed the 50% plateau this season.
• The Raiders tied a season high in free-throws made (23).
• Northwest Florida carried plus-eight rebounding edge over the Bison (41-33), including plus-ten on the defensive glass (28-18).
• 48 of the Raiders 90 points game from the paint. 23 came from the free-throw line. Only 15 came from three.
• The Raiders scored 22 points in transition compared to the Bison's 13.

UP NEXT

Northwest Florida State will hit the court this weekend at the Tallahassee JUCO Shootout, hosted by Tallahassee State College. The Raiders are set to face two Region VIII opponents: Miami Dade on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 11:00 a.m., and Hillsborough on Sunday, Dec. 8, also at 11:00 a.m.

After the Shootout, the Raiders will remain on the road for their next four games, stepping away from home action until the new year. They'll make their return to Raider Arena on January 4 to host Bishop State, followed by the start of Panhandle Conference play on January 11 against Tallahassee State.