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Raiders Set for Weekend Classic in Daytona
Posted: Nov 13, 2025

Raiders Set for Weekend Classic in Daytona

 

NICEVILLE, Fla. — No. 7 Ranked Northwest Florida State men's basketball hits the road for the first time this season as they prepare for a couple of matchups in Daytona, FL Friday and Saturday in the Daytona State Classic hosted by Daytona State College.

 

The Matchups

The Raiders open their Classic on Friday night with a marquee top-10 showdown against No. 3 Daytona State at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Saturday matchup against another Region VIII foe, Hillsborough, at 2:00 p.m.

Daytona State enters the weekend at 4-0, outscoring opponents 405–293. Hillsborough sits at 2-2, dropping games to Palm Beach (DII) and Midland last week before bouncing back with a strong win over No. 15 Odessa.

 

Where to Watch

Fans can stream both games live on the Daytona Hudl page by clicking HERE.

 

Sizzling Start

Northwest Florida has delivered everything expected and more through its first four contests. The Raiders are off to a spotless 4-0 start, averaging 91.5 points per game and outscoring opponents by an impressive 26.5 points per outing.

Nationally, NWF ranks:

  • 5th in field goal percentage (57.7)
  • 16th in three-point percentage (40.0)
  • 30th in assists per game (19.0)
  • 22nd in net efficiency (0.338)
  • 29th in points allowed per game (65.0)

The Raiders have topped 90 points three times and surpassed the 100-point mark twice. In their most recent victory over Monroe College, NWF erased an 11-point second-half deficit to pull out a gritty 68–62 win.

 

He Can Shine

DJ Shine has been nothing short of electric to start the season. The sophomore leads the Raiders with 20.3 points per game, fourth-best in the FCSAA, while shooting a blistering 62.5% from the field and 58.3% from three. He's also adding 3.3 assists per game, making him one of the most efficient and dangerous scorers in the state.

 

Play With Fire, You'll Get Burns

Justin Burns has anchored the Raiders' frontcourt with consistency and toughness. The sophomore transfer ranks second on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) and field goal percentage (73.5%), while leading NWF in rebounds (9.8 rpg), steals (2.3 spg), and blocks (0.8 bpg).

 

Roman It Down

The Raiders' lone returner, Braylon Roman, continues to be the steady engine behind the team's success. His 9.0 points per game don't tell the whole story—Roman leads NWF in assists (5.3 apg), ranks second in steals (1.5 spg), and sits fourth in rebounds (4.0 rpg), the highest mark among guards.

In his latest outing, Roman dished out 10 assists and seven rebounds while attempting only four shots, a perfect example of his unselfish play. He also leads the Raiders in minutes at 26.0 per game.

 

Repeat or Redemption?

The Raiders and Falcons are no strangers to high-stakes meetings. As Region VIII rivals, the two programs find themselves matched up frequently—including a nearly identical early-November battle last season in Niceville, where NWF, ranked No. 6, edged No. 3 Daytona State in an 88–83 thriller.

Friday night's showdown is shaping up to be another classic, with both teams entering the weekend ranked in the national top 10 and off to strong starts. Beyond early-season bragging rights, this matchup could carry meaningful postseason implications if both squads make deep runs into March.