Pirates Battle to the Finish Against Daytona

Pensacola State suffered its first loss of the season in a hard-fought 65–60 battle against undefeated No. 4 Daytona State. The matchup featured two elite defensive efforts, with the Pirates delivering one of their toughest performances of the year against a Daytona team that entered the game averaging 101 points per contest.

From the start, Pensacola State set the tone defensively, holding Daytona to just 24% shooting in the first half and taking a 25–24 lead into the break. The Pirates' discipline and communication on that end kept the game at a grinding pace and forced Daytona out of its usual offensive rhythm.

In the second half, however, Daytona began to find momentum. A key run midway through the period pushed the Falcons ahead by as many as 11 with six minutes remaining. Pensacola State battled back, cutting the deficit to five in the final minutes, but couldn't quite get over the final hurdle.

Sean Owens led all scorers with a game-high 16 points, providing much-needed perimeter offense. Malick Sene continued his strong play with 12 points and 14 rebounds, anchoring the interior and keeping Pensacola State competitive on the glass.

Despite the loss, the Pirates showed toughness and discipline against one of the nation's premier teams. They'll look to bounce back quickly, returning to action on November 25th at 8 p.m. against Trinity Valley.