February 14, 2026
Slow Start Snaps Bucs Streak
The #21 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers fell behind early and never recovered Saturday afternoon against the Eastern Florida State Titans, dropping an 81-67 decision to see their eight game win streak come to a screeching halt.
MELBOURNE, Fla.- The #21 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers fell behind early and never recovered Saturday afternoon against the Eastern Florida State Titans, dropping an 81-67 decision to see their eight game win streak come to a screeching halt.
After the long trip to Melbourne, the Bucs got off to a dreadfully slow start, missing 9 of their first 10 field goal attempts as they fell behind 9-3 five minutes into the contest. An offensive rebound and put back from Keyon Giles broke the drought, but another one came in right after that as the Bucs wouldn't get their next field goal for 3:23 as Eastern extended their lead to 21-8 at the midway point of the first half. The Titans took their largest lead of the half at 28-12 before the Bucs worked their way back into it before the break, facing a 44-33 deficit after 20 minutes of action.
The Bucs got back to within single digits early in the second half on a three from Tyler Bey, but every time the Bucs made a push, the Titans had an answer. An 8-0 Eastern Florida run stretched the Titans lead back out to 15 with 13:00 to go and Eastern kept FSW at bay the rest of the way. The Titans went up by as many as 20 in the closing moments before finishing off the Bucs 81-67 at the final horn.
FSW had an uncharacteristic off shooting night, hitting on just 36% from the field and 26% from three point land in the loss. Mason Blazer led the Bucs with 19 while Bey and Giles each finished with 15. Stephen Okoro had another big game on the glass, hauling in 17 rebounds, his seventh straight game with 10 or more boards.
The Bucs see their eight game winning streak come to an end as they drop to 20-6 overall and 10-2 in Citrus Conference play where they now sit in a congested race for the league title with four games left to go. Eastern picks up their 20th win of the year to match the Bucs at 20-6 while getting themselves back in the title race at 9-3 in Citrus action.
FSW returns home for three straight beginning on Wednesday when they host the Miami Dade Sharks in a 7 PM tip from Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.