November 11, 2022
Bucs Upended By USU-Eastern
The #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers traded in the sun and sand of Southwest Florida for the cold and snow of Utah on Friday and unfortunately for the Bucs, their offense was as cold as the below freezing temperatures outside the Horne Activity Center as FSW shot just 35% from the field in a 78-71 defeat at the hands of the Utah State-Eastern Eagles to fall to 1-1 on the early season.
EPHRAIM, Utah- The #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers traded in the sun and sand of Southwest Florida for the cold and snow of Utah on Friday and unfortunately for the Bucs, their offense was as cold as the below freezing temperatures outside the Horne Activity Center as FSW shot just 35% from the field in a 78-71 defeat at the hands of the Utah State-Eastern Eagles to fall to 1-1 on the early season.
The Bucs got off to a quick start with five points in the first 43 seconds of the contest, but they went cold over the next five minutes, failing to score as Utah State-Eastern pushed out to a 13-5 advantage. A barrage of threes got the Bucs back to within striking distance and a triple from Jadrian Tracey gave FSW their first lead since the opening minute of the game at 19-18 with 9:30 to go in the first half. Another three later in the period from Bradley Douglas upped the Bucs lead to six before a late bucket from USU-Eastern made it a three point game at the break with FSW leading 37-34.
It was a five point game in favor of the Bucs five minutes into the second, but they again hit a dry spell as the Eagles went on a 9-0 run to flip the script and put FSW in a 47-43 hole with 13:03 to go in the contest. A three from Douglas drew the Bucs back even at 53 with 9:19 to go, but managed just one field goal over the next four minutes as the Eagles pushed back in front 61-57 as the clock ticked under five minutes remaining. The Bucs hung around until the closing moments, but couldn't get over the top as USU-Eastern padded their lead at the free throw line before finishing the Bucs off 78-71 to hand FSW their first loss of the 2022-2023 season.
The Bucs shot just 35% from the field in the loss while shooting 31% from the three point line where 39 of their 73 shots on the night came from. Douglas and Tracey combined for 36 points for the Bucs in the loss.
FSW drops to 1-1 on the year with the loss while USU-Eastern remains unbeaten at 4-0.
The Bucs won't have long to lick their wounds as they are right back in action when they take on #19 Snow on the Badgers home court Saturday night.