Fans inside Raider Arena were treated to a thriller Saturday night as Northwest Florida men’s basketball stormed back to claim an improbable 68–62 win over Monroe (NY). Trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half, the Raiders dug deep behind clutch performances from their veterans and a relentless defensive effort down the stretch, closing the game on a 17–4 run to seal the comeback victory.
Four Raiders scored in double figures, led by standout guard DJ Shine, who posted 14 points and buried a momentum-shifting three-pointer late in the contest. Right behind him was Jonas Nichols, who added 13 points, including one of the night’s biggest buckets to bring the Raiders within one before Shine’s go-ahead shot.
Justin Burns delivered another strong two-way performance, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds, coming up with critical boards and second-chance points in key moments. Domarion Vann-Kelly rounded out the group of double-digit scorers with 11 points, providing steady playmaking and defensive energy when the team needed it most.
As a team, the Raiders shot 42.3% from the field but struggled to find rhythm at the free-throw line, converting just 58.1% of their attempts. Monroe’s size gave Northwest Florida some trouble on the glass, as the Mustangs held a 43–39 rebounding advantage — including a 15–7 edge in offensive boards that led directly to 11 second-chance points.
Despite those challenges, the Raiders’ defensive intensity and late-game poise proved the difference, improving Northwest Florida to 4–0 on the season with another statement win at home.
FIRST HALF
The Raiders wasted no time setting the tone, as DJ Shine opened the scoring with a three-pointer right out of the gate, then followed it up with a second-chance layup on the next possession. Monroe responded quickly with a triple and midrange jumper to even things up at five, but Northwest Florida soon found its rhythm. A layup by Jonas Nichols and a corner three from Jemison Marquez stretched the lead to 15–10 midway through the half. Back-to-back buckets from Justin Burns and Domarion Vann-Kelly gave the Raiders their largest lead of the night at 22–13.
Monroe clawed back with a 7–0 run to trim the lead to two before Nichols buried a wing three to push the advantage back to six. The Mustangs, however, kept applying pressure, converting a pair of late baskets—including a deep three—to take their first lead of the game with under two minutes to play in the half. Vann-Kelly answered immediately with a three of his own, but a last-second putback by Monroe knotted things at 30–30 heading into the locker room.
SECOND HALF
The Mustangs carried their momentum into the second half, opening on an 8–0 run fueled by Raider turnovers and missed looks. Suddenly down 38–30, Northwest Florida struggled to find an offensive spark while Monroe extended its lead to double digits. The Raiders refused to fold, though, slowly chipping away until Braylon Roman lobbed a perfect pass to Johnny Pierce for a thunderous dunk that brought the crowd to life.
That energy carried over as Shine sank a pair of free throws, and Nichols followed with a clutch three from the wing to make it a one-point game. With 4:26 to play, the Raiders surged ahead behind a Burns layup to take a 56–55 lead. Moments later, Roman found Shine again—this time in the corner—for a dagger three that sent Raider Arena into a frenzy.
Monroe tried desperately to swing the momentum back, but the Raiders’ defense tightened up, forcing tough shots and key turnovers. Late fouls sent Northwest Florida to the line, and though free throws had been a struggle all night, the Raiders converted enough down the stretch to hold off the Mustangs and complete the comeback, 68–62.
It was a gritty, hard-fought win that showcased the Raiders’ resilience, composure, and ability to close when it mattered most.
UP NEXT
The Raiders will have a week until they are back in action. The team is set to play next weekend in Daytona where they have a tough matchup Friday against No. 3 ranked Daytona State followed by a game against Hillsborough Saturday. Those will be the first of six road games the Raiders will play. The team will not be back home until Dec. 2 against Southern union.
