Vann-Kelly Drops 30, Raiders Punch Ticket to Elite Eight

HUTCHINSON, Kans. — Northwest Florida is headed back to the Elite Eight for the eighth time under head coach Steve DeMeo, powered by a career night from Damarion Vann-Kelly in a 76–62 win over No. 6 seed Vincennes.

Vann-Kelly caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down seven three-pointers on his way to a career-high 30 points. Braylon Roman continued his strong play with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Jonas Nichols added 14 points and three assists. Inside, Justin Burns and Johnny Pierce controlled the glass, each pulling down seven rebounds.

The Raiders capitalized immediately, opening the game with a technical free throw and a quick three from Jonas Nichols to jump out to a 4–0 lead. They extended it to 9–2 after a steal and score from Nichols, but Vincennes responded with a steady run fueled by Dayton Williams and Jalen Calloway. A 10–0 stretch gave the Trailblazers a 12–9 advantage, and they continued to control the pace midway through the half, building their largest lead at 21–11.

Northwest Florida struggled offensively for much of the first half but found a spark from Damarion Vann-Kelly. The guard knocked down four three-pointers in a five-minute span, including back-to-back triples that erased the deficit and tied the game at 23–23. From there, the Raiders seized momentum, closing the half on a 9–3 run highlighted by a Johnny Pierce dunk and a late jumper from Braylon Roman to take a 32–26 lead into the break.

Vincennes came out aggressive in the second half, cutting the lead to one possession multiple times, but Northwest Florida responded each time. A Roman three-pointer and a Nichols jumper pushed the lead back to seven, and the Raiders began to assert control on the glass and defensive end.

Midway through the half, Northwest Florida delivered the decisive run. Sparked by second-chance opportunities and transition scoring, the Raiders stretched the lead to double digits, highlighted by a Roman three and a Christian Reid dunk that made it 53–42. Vann-Kelly continued his hot shooting, knocking down key shots to extend the margin to as much as 18.

Vincennes made one final push late, trimming the deficit to 11, but the Raiders calmly closed it out at the free throw line. Roman sealed the game with clutch free throws in the final minute, securing the 76–62 victory.

With the win, the Raiders advance to Wednesday's Elite Eight matchup against Gulf Coast—a familiar foe. Northwest Florida won two of the three regular-season meetings between the teams, setting up another highly anticipated showdown.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at Hutchinson Sports Arena, with the game set to be streamed live on ESPN+.