March 11, 2021
#17 FSW Takes Out Frustrations on Miami Dade
Sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and the Miami Dade Sharks couldn't have fit that statement much better than they did Wednesday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena as the #17 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put a 121-87 spanking on the Sharks in FSW's first game back after their first conference loss in over four years.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and the Miami Dade Sharks couldn't have fit that statement much better than they did Wednesday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena as the #17 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put a 121-87 spanking on the Sharks in FSW's first game back after their first conference loss in over four years.
As expected, it was an up and down start to the game for both sides as FSW jumped out to an early lead before Miami Dade came back to take a lead of their own at 13-12 just four minutes in. A three from Jonathan Dos Anjos gave the Bucs the lead back and they wouldn't give it up again. The Bucs scored 13 of the next 14 points, opening up a 25-14 lead midway through the half and continued to push, extending their lead to 20 moments later when big man Modibo Sanogo streaked the middle of the floor and was rewarded with a two handed flush to make it 38-18. Rhyjon Blackwell skied high for a rebound and pushed the ball up the floor at the 4:00 mark before dishing it to Kario Oquendo for a high flying slam to make it 46-25 FSW with 4:05 remaining in the half. The Sharks made a push before the half to cut into the Bucs lead, but FSW remained in control as they headed to the locker room, leading it 51-34 after 20 minutes of action.
Whatever halftime adjustments Head Coach Eric Murphy made for his team during the break worked like a charm as FSW outscored the Sharks 17-4 in the first four minutes of the period to blow the game wide open at 68-38 with 16:00 to go. CJ Lane found his stroke from the outside, draining back to back threes to keep it a 30 point game in favor of the Bucs and later on Kahari Rogers followed suit with back to back triples of his own to make it 87-53 FSW with 10:05 left on the clock. It was showtime from there as the Bucs hit the century mark on a lay in from Oquendo with 6:04 still to go and Oquendo followed up a missed dunk with a tip in dunk of his own to make it 105-68 FSW with 4:44 remaining. Trace Darby found Jovan Kojic for an alley oop lay in to send the crowd into a frenzy with under 4:00 remaining and Darby nailed a three himself in the final minute to put the finishing touches on a 121-87 win for the Bucs.
The 121 points for the Bucs was just two short of the school record of 123 set by the 2018-2019 FSW squad, also against Miami Dade. The Bucs shot 59% from the field on the night and connected on 18 of 36 from downtown, good for an even 50%. FSW made just one free throw in the contest.
All 14 players dressed for the Bucs made at least one field goal in the victory. Lane drilled five threes and scored a career high 21 to lead the way for the Bucs while Dos Anjos finished with 20 for the second straight game. Oquendo had 18 points and seven rebounds while logging a team best +27 and Rodgers and Terry Roberts both reached double figures with 15 and 11 respectively. Sanogo just missed his first career double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
The Bucs remain in first place in the Southern Conference standings with the win, improving to 12-2 overall and 6-1 in league play. Miami Dade's rough start continues as they fall to 2-10 overall and 1-6 in Southern Conference action.
FSW will take the court again on Saturday when they travel up I-75 to take on State College of Florida in Bradenton in a matinee affair.