Second Half Push Not Enough to Carry Raiders Over the Hump

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Northwest Florida State Falls to Pensacola State, Snapping 10-Game Win Streak

On Saturday afternoon, the Northwest Florida State men's basketball team dropped their fourth game of the season to Pensacola State, 63-56, ending a 10-game win streak and evening their Panhandle Conference record to 1-1.

The Raiders found themselves in trouble early, struggling to find offensive rhythm in the first half. They managed just 17 points before halftime, heading into the break down 33-17. Pensacola State dominated the boards, capitalizing on key second-chance opportunities and outmuscling Northwest Florida State in the paint.

Coming out of halftime, the Raiders showed signs of life. Within the opening five minutes of the second half, they chipped away at the Pirates' lead, cutting the deficit to single digits. However, Pensacola State quickly responded with a series of key layups and clutch free throws, pushing their lead back to double digits and keeping Northwest Florida at arm's length.

Momentum began to shift with just over nine minutes left in the game when Nathan Ojukwu hit the Raiders' first three-pointer of the night. This shot ignited an electrifying 16-5 run that brought Northwest Florida back into the game. The Raiders' defense tightened up, forcing timely stops and converting fast-break opportunities into points.

Dwayne Pierce fueled the comeback effort, sinking a crucial three-pointer to bring the Raiders within five points. Moments later, Davion Hill stole the ball and drove coast-to-coast for another score, cutting the Pirates' lead to just three points at 53-50. With relentless full-court pressure, the Raiders forced additional turnovers and trimmed the deficit to a single point.

However, Pensacola State proved resilient. The Pirates knocked down key three-pointers and hit critical free throws in the closing minutes, regaining control and extending their lead. Despite several chances to pull closer, the Raiders' energy began to fade, and their hopes for a dramatic comeback dwindled.

Pensacola State held on for the 63-56 victory, improving their record to 3-0 in Panhandle Conference play. For the Raiders, it was a frustrating loss after a hard-fought second-half surge, leaving them to regroup as they look to bounce back in their next matchup Wednesday.

PERFORMANCES & STATS OF NOTE

• Davion Hill and Dwayne Pierce led the Raiders in scoring with 15 points each.
• Nathan Ojukwu added 13 points, contributing five rebounds and five steals to his performance, while Braylon Roman scored 10 points to round out the Raiders' double-digit scorers.
• The Raiders struggled offensively, shooting just 38.6% from the field and a disappointing 23.5% from beyond the arc.
• On the boards, Northwest Florida was out-rebounded 33-21 by the Pirates.
• Despite the rebounding deficit, the Pirates committed 12 more turnovers than the Raiders, finishing with 23 turnovers compared to 11 for Northwest Florida.

UP NEXT

The Raiders will return home on Wednesday to host Gulf Coast. The game is scheduled to tip-off shortly after the women's game, with the first tip expected around 7:30 p.m. following the 5:15 p.m. women's matchup.