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Raiders Gear Up for Final Regular Season Road Trip
Posted: Feb 24, 2026

Raiders Gear Up for Final Regular Season Road Trip

 

NICEVILLE, Fla. — A lot is at stake for Northwest Florida State men's and women's basketball as the Raiders gear up for their final regular season road trip to Panama City to take on a pair of ranked Gulf Coast squads.

The women have their eye's set on winning an eight consecutive conference championship while the men are still looking to secure their spot in the postseason with a win on Wednesday.

Game Information

February 25, 2026
Location: Panama City, FL
Live Stream Link

Women (5:15 p.m.)

No. 3 Northwest Florida (22-3, 8-2) vs.#16 Gulf Coast State (17-6, 5-5)

Men (7:30 p.m.)

No. 8 Northwest Florida (23-5, 6-4) vs. #12 Gulf Coast (22-6, 5-5)

  

WOMEN'S GAME NOTES

Last Week: Northwest Florida extended its winning streak to six games following a 63-43 win over Pensacola on Saturday. The Raiders were led in scoring by Carrington Jones who notched a career-high 23 points on 64.0 percent shooting. Khoudia Diagne had another solid all-around performance with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals.   

This Week: The Raiders will finish out their regular season against a pair of postseasons bound teams in #16 Gulf Coast and #8 Chipola. First, they travel to Panama City to take on the Commodores at 5:15, looking for a season sweep. Then they return home Saturday to face the Indians in a rubber match that could be for a conference Championship.

The Opponent: Gulf Coast has already locked up their spot in the postseason and is now looking to finish out the season strong and build some momentum ahead of March. The Commodores are coming off a tough road loss at Tallahassee last week, falling 81-64. The team is led by presumed first-team All-FCSAA forward Arianny Francisco De Olivera who leads the state in points per game (20.3). She's also the team's leading rebounder at 9.7 boards pregame, which is second in the state.

NWF by the Numbers: Northwest Florida features one of the country's elite defenses, allowing just 47.6 points per game — the second-lowest mark nationally — while holding opponents to 22.0 percent shooting from three, ranking sixth. Offensively, the Raiders average 72.2 points per game and rank third nationally in field goal percentage (48.9%) and 19th in three-point percentage (32.9%).

Magic Number One: With the Raiders' postseason spot firmly secured, the attention now shifts to winning their eighth-straight conference championship. A win on Wednesday would guarantee at least a share of the conference championship. The Raiders could win the title outright by winning out, or a win Wednesday paired with a Chipola loss against Tallahassee could also do the trick.

 

MEN'S GAME NOTES

Last Week: Northwest Florida sis coming off a 87-66 victory over Pensacola State, putting them back in the win column. Jonas Nichols, DJ Shine and Damarion Vann-Kelly combined for 53 of the Raiders 87 points, with Nichols leading the trio with 20 points, followed by Shine (17) and Vann-Kelly (16). The Raiders were blistering hot from three, making 14-of-21 attempts from deep, including 9-of-10 in the first half.

This Week: The Raiders are still looking to secure their spot to in the postseason, as is the rest of the conference. With two games left on their schedule, the ball in fully in their court. First the team plays a pinitol matchup against #12 Gulf Coast in what is certainly a must win for both teams. Saturday, the Raiders host #7 Chipola in what will be another high-stakes matchup that could have postseason or conference championship implications on the line.

The Opponent: The Commodores went from first place in the Conference less than two weeks ago, to fourth and on the outside of the postseason bubble, looking for a way back in. A three-game losing streak to Northwest Florida, Chipola and Tallahassee has put the Commodores in desperation mode as every outcome matters for their postseason hopes. The team is led by the talented scoring trio of Trent Lincoln (19.8), Devotes Cobbs (14.9), and Traevon Koch (10.8). Lincoln is also the leading assist man (6.0) and sits second in rebounds (4.5).

NWF By the Numbers: Northwest Florida has been one of the NJCAA's most efficient offensive teams, averaging 83.5 points per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the field (5th nationally) and 40.2 percent from three-point range (6th). The Raiders have topped the 100-point mark six times this season and scored 90 or more in 12 contests. Northwest Florida has also excelled in tight games, posting an 8–3 record in contests decided by fewer than 10 points.

Down to the Wire: The Panhandle has been no joke this season, with four of the five teams sitting in the NJCAA top 15. With only three bids to the FCSAA State Tournament, one team will be left on the couch while the other three compete for a Region Championship. Tallahassee currently leads Northwest Florida and Chipola by a game. Gulf Coast sits in fourth place, once game back of the Raiders and Indians. The Raiders are in complete control of their destiny. A win Wednesday equals postseason. If they win out, there is a chance they can claim a share of the Conference Championship, if Tallahassee loses on Wednesday at Chipola.