Balanced Offense Propels Raiders to Dominant Win Over Hinds

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Northwest Florida State men's basketball extended their winning streak to six games on Friday night with a commanding 108-69 victory over Hinds College, powered by an exceptional offensive display and strong defensive execution.

The Raiders put up 52 points in the first half and added 57 more in the second, shooting an impressive 61.4% from the field overall. The key to their success was efficient inside scoring and selfless ball movement, as the team racked up a season-high 31 assists. Eight of the 11 Raiders who saw action tallied multiple assists, with Jadarian Faulkner leading the way with seven.

Every Raider who stepped on the court contributed to the scoring effort. Davion Hill paced the team with 18 points, while Dwayne Pierce added 17, including four three-pointers. Josh Hayes was a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor for 16 points. Curtis Williams (13) and Braylon Roman (11) also reached double digits in scoring.

On the defensive side, Northwest Florida forced 21 turnovers and held Hinds to just 41.0% shooting. The Raiders narrowly won the rebounding battle 38-36, with Ruppe Kolawole leading the effort for the second consecutive game, grabbing 10 boards.

With the win, Northwest Florida improves to 11-3 on the season and heads into the holiday break on a six-game winning streak.

KEY PERFORMANCES / STATS

• Davion Hill (18), Dwayne Pierce (17), and Josh Hayes (16) led the Raiders' scoring effort. Hill notched his fourth consecutive double-digit performance and fifth in the last six games. Pierce secured his eighth double-digit outing of the season, while Hayes recorded his ninth.
• Despite limited playing time, Rupee Kolawole dominated the glass for the second straight game. After grabbing seven rebounds the previous night, the 7'2" center set a career-high with 10 rebounds, adding two blocks in just 10 minutes of action.
• Jadarian Faulkner continued to shine as the Raiders' playmaker, dishing out a team-high seven assists to facilitate the offense effectively.
• Braylon Roman delivered a strong all-around performance, contributing 11 points, five assists, two rebounds, and three steals while also adding a blocked shot.

UP NEXT

The Raiders will take a two-week break to rest and recover over the holidays. They return to action on December 30 and 31 in Panama City, where they will face Southern Union and South Georgia Tech to close out the year. The team's next home game is scheduled for January 4, 2025, against Bishop State. Following that, the Raiders will kick off conference play on January 11 when they host Tallahassee State.