Raiders Snap Two-Game Skid with 67-60 Win Over Tallahassee State

NICEVILLE, Fla. —Northwest Florida State men's basketball broke their two-game losing streak on Saturday with a 67-60 victory over Tallahassee State, led by standout performances from Davion Hill and Dwyane Pierce. Hill registered his second double-double of the season—both against Tallahassee—posting 15 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. Pierce finished as the game's top scorer with 19 points, adding seven rebounds and two assists.

As has been the case in many of the Raiders' conference matchups this season, this game was tightly contested, featuring 17 lead changes and two ties—15 of which came in the second half. Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, with the Eagles managing just 25 points on 8-of-31 shooting (25.8%), while the Raiders scored 21 on 10-of-28 shooting (35.7%). The biggest difference came on the boards, where Tallahassee held a 27-18 advantage in rebounds at the break. Despite this, the Raiders trailed by just four points heading into halftime.

The second half saw both offenses heat up. The Raiders started with three consecutive makes, but the Eagles quickly matched with three of their own, including a three-pointer. After seven minutes, the score was deadlocked at 33. The back-and-forth continued as both teams vied for control. The Eagles managed to grab a 57-54 lead with 3:11 remaining following a turnover by the Raiders that led to a fastbreak score. However, Dwyane Pierce responded with a clutch three-pointer from the wing to put the Raiders back on top, 58-57, with under two minutes to play.

Tallahassee kept the game close, but with 51 seconds left, the Raiders took a three-point lead after a tough fadeaway jumper from the elbow. The Raiders then sealed the game with critical defensive stops and clutch free throws, securing a 67-60 victory.

Postgame Notes

• The Raiders finished the game shooting 27-of-63 (42.9%).
• Dwyane Pierce led all scorers with 19 points, while Davion Hill grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
• After trailing by nine rebounds in the first half, the Raiders closed the gap and finished with only a two-rebound deficit (45-43) in the final tally.
• Points in the paint were a major factor, with the Raiders scoring 44 points in the post compared to 30 for the Eagles.
• Fast breaks also played a pivotal role, as the Raiders scored 12 fast-break points, while the Eagles registered 17.
• The Raiders posted one of their lowest turnover totals of the season, finishing with just eight.
• Neither team gained a significant advantage throughout the game, which saw 17 lead changes and 12 ties. The Eagles held the lead for just one second longer (16:54) than the Raiders (16:53).

UP NEXT

The Raiders will have a week off before returning to action next Saturday in Pensacola for a 4:00 p.m. matchup against the Pirates. They will then host Gulf Coast on February 26 before heading back on the road to face No. 3 Chipola on March 1. The regular season will conclude at home on March 3 with another matchup against Gulf Coast.