February 17, 2025
Bucs Ride Hot Start to Win Over Saints
It was too cold for the Santa Fe Saints to travel to Fort Myers for their originally scheduled game against the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers three weeks ago, but the Bucs made sure that wasn't the case in Monday's make up game, getting out to a scorching hot start, putting up 59 points in the first half in route to a 95-77 win to move one step closer to punching their ticket for the upcoming FCSAA Tournament in Niceville.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- It was too cold for the Santa Fe Saints to travel to Fort Myers for their originally scheduled game against the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers three weeks ago, but the Bucs made sure that wasn't the case in Monday's make up game, getting out to a scorching hot start, putting up 59 points in the first half in route to a 95-77 win to move one step closer to punching their ticket for the upcoming FCSAA Tournament in Niceville.
Santa Fe got off to the start they were looking for, hitting their first two shots of the game to take a quick 5-0 lead, but they missed their next 13 field goal attempts as Florida SouthWestern went on a 26-1 run to take command of the game midway through the first half. An offensive rebound and tough put back from Jafeth Martinez put the Bucs up 30-9 and a block from Martinez and a dunk on the other end from Jeremy Innocent made it 35-9 FSW with 9:13 to go in the half. The Bucs continued to pour it on the Saints as K'jei Parker found Chol Machot for an alley oop to extend the lead to 46-22 and a three from Parker at the first half horn gave FSW a 59-31 lead into the locker rooms at the break.
The Bucs didn't relent as the second half got underway as a jumper from Eugene Alvin put FSW in front 72-38 and a triple from the corner from Breno Silva kept the Bucs up big 78-45 with 12:00 to go. A huge steal and slam from Innocent gave the Bucs 80 with 11:19 to go and started a personal 6-0 run to extend on the FSW lead. With the game well in hand, the Saints made a run, but it was far too little, too late as the Bucs went on to win it 95-77.
Three Bucs notched double-doubles in the win as Innocent finished with a career high 17 points and 11 rebounds, Parker had 14 points and a career high 10 assists, and Martinez put up 15 points and game high 12 boards. Machot led the Bucs with 20 points in the win while blocking three shots to give him 58 on the year, breaking an FSW single season record with five games still left to go in the regular season.
The win was a big one for FSW who moves into third place in the Citrus Conference standings at 7-4 while boosting their overall record to 14-9 on the year. Santa Fe's playoff hopes take a hit as they fall to 9-16 overall and 4-7 in league play where they now sit on the outside looking in for next month's FCSAA Tournament.
The Bucs busy week continues on Wednesday when they travel up the coast to St. Petersburg to take on the Titans in a 7 PM tip before going to Gainesville Saturday for a rematch with Santa Fe.