Pirates Show Resilience in Back-to-Back Thrillers

Pensacola State showcased its trademark grit in two dramatic contests, earning a hard-fought win over Florida Southwestern before narrowly falling to Santa Fe in a comeback bid that came up just short.

Pirates Rally Past Florida Southwestern, 59–55

In a game defined by toughness and perseverance, Pensacola State delivered a gritty comeback victory over Florida Southwestern. The Pirates trailed for most of the night, entering halftime down seven after a physical first half dominated by the Buccaneers on the glass and in forcing turnovers. Florida Southwestern extended its lead to 12 early in the second half, but Pensacola State never flinched. Leaning on its defensive identity, the Pirates chipped away at the deficit and seized momentum during a dramatic stretch of back-and-forth basketball. A late surge gave Pensacola State its largest lead of the night—a four-point cushion—and they held firm until the final buzzer.

Deven Bates powered the comeback with a dynamic 25-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist performance, once again proving to be the heartbeat of the offense. Malick Sene added 15 points and 12 rebounds, including two clutch free throws in the final minute. Ethan McDonald continued his sharpshooting, drilling two timely threes and sealing the win at the line. The unsung hero was Alex Madrid, who locked down Florida Southwestern's leading scorer (18 ppg), holding him to just four points in a defensive masterclass.

Pirates Nearly Complete Epic Comeback Against Santa Fe

Just days later, Pensacola State found itself in another battle—this time against Santa Fe. The Pirates fell 67–61 in a game that nearly produced one of the season's biggest comebacks. Santa Fe controlled the first half with physicality and poise, building a 34–19 lead behind guard Moses Horne's 14-point outburst. Pensacola State struggled offensively, shooting just 11% from three, and faced a 20-point deficit early in the second half.

Then came the rally. Fueled by relentless defense and energy off the bench, the Pirates stormed back with a stunning 21–2 run, tying the game and even taking a two-point lead in the final minutes. But Santa Fe answered with clutch plays down the stretch, closing the game at the free-throw line.

Despite the loss, several Pirates shined. Bates again led the charge with 22 points and 6 rebounds, while Sene dominated the boards with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Sean Owens added 11 points and three key triples. Waris Njoya provided a spark with hustle and defensive intensity, and Madrid once again delivered elite defense—holding Santa Fe's leading scorer, Tre Dubois (17 ppg), without a single field goal.