Northwest Florida men’s basketball put on another offensive clinic Friday night, topping the 100-point mark for the second time this season in a dominant 103–46 victory over Lawson State. Every Raider on the roster recorded a basket in the win.
Leading the charge was reigning FCSAA Player of the Week DJ Shine, who poured in 17 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting performance while adding two rebounds and two assists. Justin Burns continued his strong start to the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing a game-high seven rebounds, while Wes Rubin matched his total with 14 points and five boards. On the defensive end, Christina Reid anchored the Raiders with three steals and a block.
As a unit, Northwest Florida was nearly unstoppable, shooting a remarkable 64.2% from the field, 53.3% from beyond the arc, and 50.0% from the free-throw line. The Raiders dominated the glass with a 46–17 rebounding edge, forced 20 Lawson State turnovers, and recorded 13 steals, all while committing just 13 turnovers of their own.
First Half
Northwest Florida wasted no time setting the tone, coming out with high energy and execution on both ends of the floor. The Raiders opened the game with four straight scoring possessions, including a deep three-pointer from Damarion Vann-Kelly to spark an early 9–0 lead. Moments later, Johnny Pierce capitalized on a missed jumper from Vann-Kelly with a strong putback, extending the advantage to double digits and forcing an early Lawson State timeout.
The momentum continued as DJ Shine, the reigning FCSAA Player of the Week, found his rhythm from beyond the arc, knocking down a smooth three to keep the Raiders rolling. Christian Reid and Justin Burns both got in on the scoring action, using their physicality inside to add to the lead. With the Cougars struggling to find a defensive answer, Northwest Florida’s offensive flow was seamless — sharp passing, efficient shooting, and relentless rebounding.
As the Raiders continued to pour it on, Nigel Cook buried a corner three off a crisp pass from De’Eric Barber. Reid and Pierce punctuated the half with a pair of powerful dunks, ballooning the lead to 37–13. Despite a small push from Lawson State in the final minutes of the period, Northwest Florida remained in complete control, heading into halftime with a commanding 57–26 advantage.
Second Half
The Raiders picked up right where they left off after the break, maintaining their intensity and discipline on both ends. Lawson State showed some signs of life early, stringing together a 7–0 run inside the 16:30 mark to trim the deficit slightly. But Vann-Kelly quickly halted the surge with another three-pointer, silencing the Cougar momentum and reestablishing the Raiders’ dominance.
From there, Northwest Florida’s depth and pace took over. Every player who checked in contributed — whether through scoring, rebounding, or facilitating — as the Raiders’ bench continued to showcase its strength. Their defense was equally suffocating, forcing turnovers and converting them into easy transition points. A 14–0 Raider run midway through the second half effectively sealed the game, stretching the lead to an astounding 46 points.
As the clock wound down, both teams eased the tempo, focusing on execution and avoiding injuries in the closing minutes. The Raiders’ efficiency and energy never wavered, however, as they closed out a statement 103–46 victory — their second 100+ point performance of the young season.
Up Next
The Raiders are back tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. as they get set to face Monroe (NY), a team that beat them last year in the big apple. The Mustangs are coming off a tough two-point loss to Pensacola earlier today and will look to rebound with a win over the Raiders tomorrow.
