FORT MYERS, Fla.- K'jei Parker and Breno Silva combined for 49 points, but it wasn't enough for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Friday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena as they ran into a well-oiled machine of the #17 Monroe Mustangs who shot 52% from the field and 47% from the three point line to run away with a 90-75 win to open the 2024 FSW Classic in Fort Myers. 

 

The Bucs got off to a slow start against the Mustangs as they went without a bucket over the first three minutes of the contest with Monroe getting out to a 7-0 lead. The Bucs got on the board for the first time at just under the 17:00 mark, but the Mustangs got the next four to push their lead to nine at 11-2. The Bucs continued to trail through the middle of the period when a pair of Breno Silva three pointers drew them back to within five at 21-16. Monroe answered with six straight to push their lead back to double digits and the Bucs went ice cold, managing just two points over a six minute stretch as the Mustang lead blew up to 41-23 with under a minute to go in the half. Another Silva triple halted the Monroe run, but at the break it was all Mustangs as they led FSW 46-28 after 20 minutes of action. 

 

Sophomore K'jei Parker tried to put the Bucs on his back in the second half, dialing up a pair of early threes to begin the period to get FSW back to within a baker's dozen at 51-38. After a burst from the Mustangs, another Parker triple made it a 13 point game once again, and moments later a steal and score from Abdoulaye Konate drew the Bucs back to within eight at 58-50 with 11:39 to go. FSW went scoreless for a two minute stretch midway through the period and Monroe took advantage, going on an 8-0 run to cushion their lead back to 17 at 71-54 with 7:19 to go. The Bucs ratcheted up their effort on the defensive end and created some havoc on the Crowther Roofing floor, getting back into the game on a three from Parker to make it 76-65 as the clock ticked under 5:00 remaining. The Bucs looked like they had one more push in them as Chol Machot threw down a two handed slam to cut the Mustang lead to single digits with under 2:30 to go, but they wouldn't be able to hold the momentum as Monroe got the next six points of the night and FSW failed to score again as they went down 90-75 at the final horn. 

 

Parker and Silva both went for career highs for the Bucs in the loss as Parker scored 26 on 10-20 shooting while Silva drilled six three pointers and put up 23 for FSW. The Bucs simply couldn't slow down the Mustangs as Monroe finished the game shooting 52% from the field and 47% from three while turning it over just seven times on the night. 

 

FSW drops their second straight to fall to 5-4 on the year while Monroe improves to 12-2. 

 

The Bucs will try to wrap up the first half of the schedule on a positive note Saturday as they take on Victory Rock Prep in a 4 PM start from Suncoast Credit Union Arena in their final game of 2024.