Pirates Outpaced in Second Half at Gulf Coast

Pensacola State came up short on the road Wednesday night, 76–64, in a game defined by two drastically different halves.

Gulf Coast opened the contest on an 11–0 run before the Pirates regrouped and delivered one of their strongest first-half performances of the season. PSC shot an impressive 50% from the field and 47% from three (8-for-17) in the opening 20 minutes. Despite Gulf Coast also heating up from long range—knocking down eight threes of their own—the Pirates controlled the tempo and took a 40–32 lead into halftime.

The momentum shifted sharply after the break. Gulf Coast applied heavy defensive pressure and found another gear offensively, fueling multiple PSC scoring droughts. The Commodores outscored Pensacola State by 20 points in the second half, hitting six threes at a 50% clip while forcing several key turnovers down the stretch. Gulf Coast maintained that surge through the final minutes to secure the 12-point victory.

Josh Middlebrooks anchored PSC with 14 points and six rebounds. Deven Bates posted a standout double-double of 22 points and 10 boards, while Ethan McDonald delivered a strong second half, connecting on all four of his three-point attempts and finishing with 12 points and four rebounds.

Pensacola State returns to action on Saturday, February 14, when the Pirates travel to Marianna, Fla., to face Chipola.