Raiders Finish Season on a High Note, Defeating Gulf Coast 65-59

NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida State men's basketball closed out their 2024-25 season on a high note Monday night, securing a 65-59 victory over Gulf Coast State to wrap up what has been a challenging season by their standards. The win was a testament to the team's resilience, overcoming early struggles to finish strong.

The Raiders had a rough start offensively, making just nine field goals in the first half while shooting 32.1% from the floor. Despite the struggles, their defense kept them in the game, as Gulf Coast State also had difficulty finding success, shooting 36.7% from the field. The first half was defined by turnovers, with both teams committing 11, leading to a scrappy and defensive battle that resulted in a 24-24 tie at halftime.

The pace picked up significantly in the second half, as both teams found better offensive rhythm and limited their mistakes. The game became a back-and-forth affair early in the period, with each team trading buckets and exchanging the lead multiple times. Davion Hill gave the Raiders a slight edge when he nailed a three-pointer at the 15:27 mark, putting Northwest Florida ahead 38-34.

The Commodores refused to go away, tying the game with a pair of free throws to keep the contest tight. However, Braylon Roman responded by knocking down a clutch three-pointer with 8:54 remaining, giving the Raiders a 47-44 lead. From that moment on, Northwest Florida never surrendered their advantage, answering every Gulf Coast State bucket with key three-pointers of their own and stepping up with crucial defensive stops in the closing minutes.

The Commodores managed to make things interesting in the final moments, cutting the Raiders' lead to two with a three-pointer from the wing with just 40 seconds remaining. That forced a Northwest Florida timeout, as they prepared to close out the game. Out of the timeout, Gulf Coast was forced to foul the Raiders' leading free-throw shooter, Davion Hill, who stepped up to the line and calmly knocked down both attempts, extending the cushion to four points.

From there, the Raiders' defense held strong, preventing Gulf Coast State from converting another shot. Northwest Florida secured the rebound and let the final seconds tick away, walking off the court with a hard-fought 65-59 victory. The win allowed the Raiders to finish their season on a positive note, showcasing their grit and determination despite the challenges they faced throughout the year.

Postgame Notes

• The Raiders and Commodores featured nearly identical stats throughout the game, going toe-to-toe in rebounds (40-35), assists (19-18), turnovers (16-16), and teals (12-12), while also shooing identical percentages from the field and three.
• The Raiders held a lead for over 30 minutes in the game with the Commodores only holding a lead for two minutes.
• The game saw eight lead changes and six ties.
• 36 of the Commodores' points came inside the painted area.
• The Raiders were a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line tonight.