Second-Half Surge Lifts Chipola Past Raiders in Marianna

MARIANNA, Fla. — Northwest Florida State men's basketball couldn't keep pace in the second half Saturday night, falling 78–69 to No. 18 Chipola as the Indians pulled away after the break.

The Raiders came out sharp in the opening half, building an early lead behind efficient shooting. Northwest Florida connected on 50.0 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes, but Chipola stayed within striking distance. The Raiders carried a slim 36–33 advantage into halftime.

Momentum shifted after the break as Northwest Florida struggled to sustain its offensive rhythm. Chipola found its groove, capitalizing on Raider scoring droughts and stringing together baskets to take control. The Indians seized the lead midway through the second half and extended it to 11 with just under eight minutes remaining.

Despite a late push, the Raiders were unable to close the gap as Chipola closed out the nine-point home victory.

Braylon Roman led Northwest Florida with 17 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Damarion Vann-Kelly followed with 15 points, while De'Eric Barber chipped in 13. Justin Burns rounded out the double-figure scorers with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Chipola held the edge on the glass, outrebounding the Raiders 37–30, including a 13–8 advantage on offensive rebounds. Northwest Florida finished the night shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range. Chipola shot 46.8 percent overall and an impressive 56.7 percent in the second half, outscoring the Raiders 45–33 over the final 20 minutes.

The Raiders return home Wednesday for a key conference matchup against No. 3 Gulf Coast before heading to Tallahassee on Saturday to face No. 8 Tallahassee State.