Pirates Fall in Overtime Thriller at Northwest Florida

No. 22 Pensacola State came up just short in a hard‑fought road battle against No. 6 Northwest Florida, falling 73–69 in overtime after an impressive second‑half comeback.

Northwest Florida set the tone early, using its size and athleticism to control the glass and impose its physical style of play. The Raiders also caught fire from beyond the arc in the first half, connecting on eight three‑pointers to take a 36–29 lead into halftime. Pensacola State struggled to limit second‑chance opportunities during the opening half, allowing the home team to dictate the tempo.

The Pirates responded with renewed toughness and urgency after the break. Pensacola State flipped the script defensively and outscored Northwest Florida 33–26 over the final 20 minutes, battling all the way back to tie the game at 62 and force overtime. The comeback effort highlighted the Pirates' resilience and competitive edge against one of the nation's top programs.

In overtime, Northwest Florida's rebounding advantage proved decisive. Pensacola State was forced to foul late, and the Raiders sealed the game at the free‑throw line.

Despite the narrow loss, several Pirates delivered standout performances. Sean Owens turned in his best outing of the season, finishing with 25 points and five rebounds on an efficient 9‑for‑13 shooting night, including 5‑of‑8 from three‑point range. Deven Bates added 24 points, eight rebounds, and a team‑high four assists, while Josh Middlebrooks sparked the bench with 10 points and three steals. Malick Sene chipped in 10 points in the paint.

Pensacola State will look to regroup and bounce back when it returns home on Saturday, January 24, to face No. 4 Gulf Coast in another top‑tier matchup.