Chase Shines as Raiders Escape with Narrow Two-Point Victory Over Pensacola

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida State men's basketball avenged its earlier loss to Pensacola with a 77-67 home victory, fueled by a well-rounded performance from the Raiders' starters.

All five starters reached double figures, with Davion Hill leading the way with 15 points. Braylon Roman (14), Josh Hayes (12), Curtis Williams (11), and Tyrese Melo-Garcia (10) all played key roles in securing the win.

The Raiders got off to a slow start but found their rhythm around the 14-minute mark, sparking a 10-3 run to take a five-point lead. Pensacola answered with a few buckets, but Northwest Florida responded with back-to-back layups and a corner three from Melo-Garcia, pushing their lead to 20-12.

The teams traded baskets throughout the first half, but the Raiders maintained control, heading into the break with a 32-26 advantage.

Pensacola came out strong in the second half, quickly cutting the deficit to one with a three-pointer and a dunk. A layup gave the Pirates the lead with just under 17 minutes to play, and they held onto that advantage for five minutes.

Over the next seven minutes, the lead changed hands six times. The Raiders finally took control when Hayes finished a tough layup, followed by a Nathan Ojukwu three-pointer from the top of the key, giving Northwest Florida a 59-54 cushion.

Pensacola continued to fight, but Dwayne Pierce sealed the game with a clutch corner three off a broken-play assist from Melo-Garcia, giving the Raiders the ten-point margin they needed to close out the win.

Postgame Notes

• With this win, the Raiders improve to 17-5 on the season and 3-2 in conference play, remaining unbeaten at home with an 8-0 record.
• Davion Hill led the Raiders in scoring for the second consecutive game, finishing with 15 points. He has now recorded double figures in 12 straight contests.
• Northwest Florida dominated inside, scoring 42 points in the paint while adding 21 fast-break points.
• Pensacola held a slight edge in rebounding (26-25) but committed two more turnovers than the Raiders.
• The game featured 10 lead changes and three ties, highlighting its back-and-forth nature.
• The Raiders' best scoring run of the game was an 8-0 surge in the second half with 5:47 remaining.

Up Next

Northwest Florida State basketball is back on the road this Saturday as they head to Panama City for a game against Gulf Coast State. Tip off for that game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from the Commodores Gym on Gulf Coast State Campus.