Fiery First Half Lifts Raiders Past Meridian, 69-48

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Northwest Florida State Men's Basketball claimed its fifth consecutive victory on Thursday with a 69-48 win over Meridian, fueled by an electrifying first half.

The Raiders controlled the opening 20 minutes, shooting a remarkable 62.5% from the field and 63.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on seven three-pointers. Sophomore Nathan Ojukwu shone brightly, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the first half, including three triples, to rack up 11 points.

While leading scorer Dwayne Pierce struggled to find his shooting rhythm early, he showcased his playmaking ability with six assists in the first half, setting up teammates for success.

In the second half, the Raiders cooled off offensively, hitting just two three-pointers and shooting 28.5% overall. However, their defensive intensity and dominance on the boards kept the Eagles at bay. Northwest Florida collected 40 rebounds and recorded a season-high eight blocks, with Kauan Raymundo leading the way with three, while Josh Hayes and Rupee Kolawole each added two.

Now sitting at 10-3 on the season, the Raiders aim to extend their winning streak to six games tomorrow afternoon as they return to Panama City for a matchup against Hinds before heading into an extended holiday break.

KEY PERFORMANCES / STATS

• Four Raiders scored in double figures: Nathan Ojukwu (11), Curtis Williams (11), Davion Hill (11), and Dwayne Pierce (10).
• Rupee Kolawole led the team with seven rebounds in limited minutes.
• Dwayne Pierce dished out a team-high six assists.
• Kauan Raymundo recorded three of the Raiders' eight blocks, a season-high for the team.
• Northwest Florida pulled down 40 rebounds for the fourth time this season.
• The Raiders hit nine three-pointers, the second-highest total this season.

UP NEXT
The Raiders return to Panama City tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. for a matchup against Hinds College, their final game before the holiday break. After a short hiatus, Northwest Florida will resume play on December 30 and 31 with two games in Panama City against Southern Union and South Georgia Tech.