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Northwest Florida Returns Home to Host Pensacola State in Conference Play Saturday
Posted: Jan 16, 2026

Northwest Florida Returns Home to Host Pensacola State in Conference Play Saturday

 

NICEVILLE, Fla. — After opening conference play on the road at Tallahassee last week, Northwest Florida State men's and women's basketball return to Raider Arena on Saturday for their home conference opener, welcoming Pensacola State for the first of three meetings between the two programs this season.

 

Game Information

January 17, 2026
Location: Niceville, FL | Raider Arena
Live Stream Link

  • Women (2:00 p.m.): No. 5 Northwest Florida (14-2, 0-1) vs. Pensacola State (14-5, 1-1)
  • Men (4:00 p.m.): No. 6 Northwest Florida (17-2, 0-1) vs. No. 22 Pensacola State (15-5, 2-0)

 

Women's Game Notes

Last Week: Northwest Florida State women's basketball is coming off a tough road loss at Tallahassee State last weekend, falling 61–59 in a tightly contested matchup that snapped the Raiders' 19-game winning streak against the Eagles.

This Week: The Raiders look to respond at home against Pensacola State. Northwest Florida took two of three meetings from the Pirates last season but dropped the most recent matchup in Pensacola, 69–66. A win on Saturday would mark the Raiders' first conference victory of the season and extend their current home winning streak to 21 games.

The Opponent: Pensacola State enters the weekend 2–0 in conference play after rebounding from an opening loss to No. 2 Chipola with a road win at Tallahassee on Wednesday. The Pirates are led by a balanced trio of Tamaya Hutchinson, Cassidy Gladney, and Amari Johnson, all averaging double figures. Hutchinson paces the team with 16.8 points per game, while she and Johnson also lead Pensacola on the glass at over six rebounds per contest.

Khoudia Diagne: Freshman standout Khoudia Diagne has been Northwest Florida's most complete performer this season, leading the team in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg), and blocks (1.1 bpg). Diagne has reached double figures in 15 games, including six performances of 20 points or more.

Home Sweet Home: Raider Arena has become one of the most difficult venues in the country for opponents. Northwest Florida has won 21 consecutive regular-season home games and owns a dominant 38–5 home record over the past four seasons. Under head coach Bart Walker, the Raiders are an impressive 95–10 at home.

 

Men's Game Notes

Last Week: Northwest Florida State men's basketball is coming off a hard-fought road loss at No. 10 Tallahassee State, falling to the Eagles 66–59 in last weekend's conference opener.

This Week: The Raiders return home looking to secure their first conference win of the 2026 season as they host No. 22 Pensacola State in their Panhandle Conference home opener.

The Opponent: Pensacola State enters the matchup playing some of its best basketball of the season, having won seven of its last 10 games. That stretch includes back-to-back victories over No. 13 Chipola and No. 10 Tallahassee. The defending state champions are led by sophomore guard Deven Bates, who averages 20.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Anchoring the frontcourt is Malick Sene, who is posting a double-double on the season with 10.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest.

Justin Burns: Sophomore transfer Justin Burns has been a constant problem for opposing defenses, averaging 14.3 points per game while controlling the glass at 7.7 rebounds per contest. Burns also leads the team in field goal percentage, converting at an efficient 69.7%.

Braylon Roman: The Raiders' lone returner from last season, Braylon Roman, continues to be a key playmaker. Roman is averaging 13.7 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field, providing steady leadership and production in the backcourt.

Offense Is Key: Northwest Florida's offense remains one of the most potent in the nation. The Raiders average 86.1 points per game, ranking inside the national top 50, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field (7th nationally) and 37.6 percent from three-point range (18th nationally).