Raiders Take Season Sweep Over Southern Union

NICEVILLE, Fla. — After a 24-day stretch away from home, No. 5 Northwest Florida State men's basketball returned to Raider Arena and made the most of it, completing a season sweep of Southern Union with an 89-56 victory.

Despite missing two starters — DJ Shine and Damarion Vann-Kelley — the Raiders dominated from start to finish, overpowering the Bison for their third double-digit win in the series.

Everyone who touched the floor tonight scored for the Raiders. Nigle Cook led the charge with a game-high 20 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting, adding four rebounds and a steal. Braylon Roman contributed 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Hassan Dorman added 11 points and six assists. Johnny Pierce also reached double figures with 10 points. All three posted season-high scoring nights, with the exception of Roman.

Northwest Florida was in rhythm offensively, shooting a sharp 58.3 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from beyond the arc, tying its season-high with 14 made threes. Defensively, the Raiders forced 15 turnovers — including 11 steals — and held a narrow 35-34 edge on the glass.

First Half

Northwest Florida opened the game with immediate energy, striking first when Johnny Pierce threw down a dunk off a feed from Braylon Roman. Southern Union answered quickly, as Tinsley knotted the score at 2–2 with an early layup. The Raiders briefly stumbled through a pair of turnovers, prompting a timeout, but the pause reset their momentum. Southern Union grabbed its only lead at 4–2 on a layup from T. Palmer, before Pierce responded by drawing contact and sinking both free throws to even the score.

From there, the Raiders began to settle in. Key defensive stops and active rebounding helped the Raiders regain control, highlighted by Nigle Cook's three-pointer that pushed the lead to 8–5. Pierce and Cook combined for a string of second-chance efforts, including a layup from Pierce following an offensive board. As Southern Union rotated lineups to find stability, the Raiders continued to pressure—Roman contributed a steady scoring rhythm, knocking down a three, adding free throws, and scoring at the rim.

The Raiders' frontcourt dominance showed as Pierce and Burns protected the rim with blocks, fueling transition opportunities. A Jonas Nichols jumper at 10:30 extended the gap to double digits, and the Raiders never looked back. The defensive intensity only increased, with steals from Marquez, Barber, Reid, and Nichols turning Southern Union miscues into points. Highlight-reel moments included a Burns dunk and back-to-back slams by Rubin and Cook.

To close the half, Cook drilled a deep three and Nichols added another at the horn, sending Northwest Florida into halftime with a commanding 46–16 advantage.

Second Half

Southern Union opened the second half with a quick basket from Dennis, but it did little to shift the momentum. Northwest Florida's defense forced multiple empty possessions, including turnovers by Palmer and misses from Tinsley and Coates. Although the Raiders started the half cold from the field, their rebounding—especially from Marquez and Pierce—kept them in control.

After a brief timeout, Northwest Florida settled in again. Burns converted inside following an offensive rebound, rebuilding the rhythm that powered the dominant first half. The Bison managed a tip-in from Coates, but the Raiders immediately answered with strong interior play and continued pressure that bottled up Southern Union's attempts to generate a run.

Even as the pace slowed and substitutions rotated freely, the Raiders maintained its grip on the game through rebounding, defense, and efficient touches around the rim. The Raiders' early lead held firm throughout the half, closing out a complete wire-to-wire performance.

Coming Up

The Raiders' stay at home was short-lived, as they now embark on another month-long stretch on the road. This weekend (Dec. 6–7), Northwest Florida State will compete in the Tallahassee Shootout, where they'll face two strong Region VIII opponents in Eastern Florida and Polk.

Afterward, the Raiders head to Panama City for consecutive classics. The first comes December 12–13, featuring matchups against No. 12 Jones and Southwest Mississippi. They'll return to Panama City to close out the month on December 30–31, with a rematch against Polk and a meeting with Reid State.