Raiders Stay Hot with Eighth Consecutive Win

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Northwest Florida State men's basketball team closed out 2024 on a high note, securing a gritty 69-63 victory over South Georgia Tech on Tuesday to extend their winning streak to eight games.

The Raiders saw four players score in double figures, led by Dwayne Pierce's 12 points off the bench. Pierce was efficient from beyond the arc, hitting 2-of-4, and perfect at the free-throw line, going 2-for-2. Gabriel Martinez also provided a boost off the bench, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

Starter Braylon Roman added 10 points, shooting 3-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Davion Hill contributed 11 points, showing aggressiveness in attacking the rim and making 3-of-6 free throws.

Josh Hayes was a force inside, finishing with 9 points and 6 rebounds, while Curtis Williams filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Nathan Ojukwu added 7 points, including two clutch free throws late in the game to help seal the win.

The Raiders' defense proved pivotal, forcing 12 turnovers and recording 9 steals. Pierce led the defensive charge with 3 steals, while Ojukwu chipped in with a block and a steal to disrupt the opposition.

Northwest Florida dominated the boards, pulling down 31 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive glass, which created key second-chance opportunities. Hayes led the rebounding effort with 6 boards, followed closely by Roman's 5.

Despite shooting just 38.1% from the field and 26.1% from three-point range, the Raiders found ways to capitalize on scoring opportunities. They converted 15-of-23 free throws (65.2%), maintaining composure down the stretch to preserve the victory.

UP NEXT

The Raiders will return to their home court on January 4 to take on Bishop State at 4:00 p.m. The last meeting between these two teams took place on November 21 in Mobile, Ala., where the Raiders edged out a 76-72 victory. This matchup marks the Raiders' final non-conference game before they kick off Panhandle play at home against Tallahassee State on January 11.