Box Score PANAMA CITY -- For a half, Polk State Basketball outplayed one of the nation's top teams. In the second half, however, No. 5 Northwest Florida State College just couldn't be stopped as it downed the Eagles on the opening day of the Gulf Coast State Shootout, 95-80.

Polk State (4-7) used stellar defense and the 3-point shot to take a 33-30 lead into the locker room. The Eagles knocked down five treys in the opening half with Moises Valdez and Isaiah McCray each accounted for two of those.

In the second half, however, the Raiders came to life offensively, finishing with 65 points in the half. Northwest Florida State was 22-for-27 from the free-throw line in the second half alone. 

Despite the loss, Eric Dailey had a strong showing offensively for Polk State, finishing with a game-high 23 points. McCray added 19 points in the loss. Valdez and Marques DaSilva-Romeo each added eight points. In his season debut, Damien Jones hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half to finish with six points. 

Braylon Roman led the Raiders with 20 points. Justin Burns added 17 points for Northwest Florida.

Since a 4-2 start, the Eagles have now dropped five straight games. They'll try to close their stay in Panama City and the calendar year strong on Wednesday as they take on No. 7 Chipola College.