NICEVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Northwest Florida State Raiders used a dominant second-half performance to remain undefeated, pulling away from the Hillsborough Hawks for an 81-72 victory in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday.

The Raiders, who entered the contest with a 71.5 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, improved their season record to 6-0, while Hillsborough evened its mark at 2-2.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the first quarter ending in a near deadlock. Hillsborough held a narrow 32-34 lead at halftime, but the second half belonged entirely to the home team. Northwest Florida State erupted for 47 points after the break, overwhelming a Hawks squad that managed 40 points in the half.

Efficiency was the story of the game. The Raiders scored 81 points on just 73 possessions, posting an offensive rating of 111.4. The Hawks, by contrast, were less effective with their opportunities, scoring 72 points from 76 possessions for an offensive rating of 95.2. Northwest Florida State’s shooting was the key differentiator, as they connected on 50.8 percent of their shots from the floor, including a sharp 10 of 21 from three-point range. Hillsborough struggled offensively, shooting 38.4 percent overall and just 6 of 23 from beyond the arc.

DJ Shine led all scorers for Northwest Florida State with 23 points. Jonas Nichols provided a crucial spark off the bench, adding 19 points in 26 minutes of action. Justin Burns controlled the paint with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Braylon Roman facilitated the offense with 13 points and four assists.

For Hillsborough, Nicholas Womack and Chandler Davis shouldered the scoring load, each finishing with 18 points. Womack also dished out a game-high six assists. Wylde Correa was a force on the boards, pulling down 10 rebounds.

Despite being outrebounded 42-34, the Raiders compensated with a disruptive defense that generated nine steals and capitalized on Hillsborough’s mistakes. The Hawks committed 10 turnovers, which Northwest Florida State converted into key scoring opportunities down the stretch.

The Raiders’ victory extends their strong start to the season, which includes a 101-99 overtime win against Daytona State just one day prior. The Hawks were coming off a high-scoring 99-78 win at Southern Crescent on Friday but were unable to maintain their offensive momentum against a stout Raiders defense in the second half.

Northwest Florida State looks to continue its winning streak on the road against Southern Union State on Thursday. Hillsborough’s next contest is not until Dec. 5, when they travel to face Tallahassee State.