December 16, 2022
FSW Hangs On Late For Win at Polk
The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got the Polk State Eagles best effort Thursday night on the road in Winter Haven, but it wasn't enough as FSW hung on late for a 83-77 win to close the first half of the 2022-2023 schedule 9-4.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got the Polk State Eagles best effort Thursday night on the road in Winter Haven, but it wasn't enough as FSW hung on late for a 83-77 win to close the first half of the 2022-2023 schedule 9-4.
The Bucs were rolling offensively from the tip on Thursday as early back to back threes from Bradley Douglas and AJ Hopkins had them out to a 14-8 advantage less than five minutes in. FSW kept their distance from the Eagles and a 5-0 run midway through the half pushed their lead to double digits at 30-18 as Jordan Mitchell drove the lane and scored with 8:07 left in the half. Polk had their best push of the half in the final four minutes as they tuned a 12 point FSW lead into just a six point contest at the break 40-34. Polk had no answer for the Bucs offense in the first 20 minutes as FSW shot 56% from the field and an even 50% from distance.
A bucket from Tyson Brown on the inside stretched FSW's lead to 13 just three minutes into the second and Jadrian Tracey used a hesitation move to get an easy two at the midway point of the period to give FSW their largest lead of the night at 62-48 with 10:13 to go. It looked like the Bucs were well on their way to another blowout win with 6:00 left as they led by a dozen, but Polk showed some fight, getting all the way back to within two in the final minute of the contest. The Bucs got a key defensive stop with 10 seconds remaining and a pair of free throws from Tracey put it on ice as FSW went on to win it 83-77 at the final horn.
The Bucs shot 55% from the field in the win, led by Douglas who put up a team high 21 on 9-12 shooting. Tracey joined Douglas in double figures with 16 on just eight field goal attempts.
FSW wins their final game before the Holiday Break as they improve to 9-4 on the year while Polk drops to a disappointing 5-9.
The Bucs will have 16 days off before taking the court again on January 2nd and 3rd in the FSW New Year's Classic at Suncoast Arena.