West Florida Comeback Falls Short in 89-85 Loss
Argos Stumble to No. 24 Arkansas Tech During Thriller
Related Item: Box Score
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Jamar Moore put in a season high 28 points during his double-double effort but it wasn’t enough as the University of West Florida men’s basketball team stumbled to No. 24 Arkansas Tech, 89-85.
The Argonauts trailed by double-digits three times in the ball game, each time battling back to make it a one possession contest to the Wonder Boys who sank 11 three pointers during their win. The defeat snaps a five game home court win streak for West Florida (7-4) who hit two three’s themselves late in the game.
Down 10 points with 2:22 to go, the Argos cut the Arkansas Tech (8-1) lead to 82-74 with a Peter Connole (Orlando, Fla./Pine Castle Christian Academy) jumper that sparked a UWF come back. Anthony Sims (Mobile, Ala./Faulkner State CC) then made it a three point affair with a layup with 45 ticks left on the clock.
A dunk followed by a pair of free throws extended the Wonder Boy lead back to seven with just :35 to play when Mike Lewis (Upper Marlboro, Md./Eastern Kentucky) hit the team’s second three pointer of the year to slice the lead back to four. A missed free throw by Arkansas Tech put the ball back in the hands of the Argos and this time it was Moore (Coolidge, Ga./Faulkner State CC) who came through with the three, putting West Florida within one.
Two free throws put the Wonder Boys back up by three before a pair of missed threes by the Argos put Arkansas Tech back in control. One more free throw put Tech up by four with :05 on the clock as UWF fell, 89-85.
The Argos held control early on in the game, going up by five on a Martell Buie (Orlando, Fla./Wallace State CC-Hanceville) basket with 16:27 to go in the opening half. A West Florida shooting drought from the field then gave Arkansas Tech the lead for good just two minutes later.
The Wonder Boys went into the locker room at the half with a 43-39 advantage over the Argos and made it a 10-point edge shortly into the second half. UWF scored five straight to get back within two but then allowed Arkansas Tech to go on a 7-0 run to extend their lead. West Florida fell behind by 10 once more before sparking their late come back.
Mike Whisman (Kissimmee, Fla./Celebration HS) also had a career night from the field, shooting 6-of-7 for 13 points while Buie finished in double-figures as well with his 10. As a team, the Argos shot 50 percent from the field, going 35-of-70.
Moore finished with the double-double, his first of the year, grabbing a career high 17 rebounds to go along with his 23 points as the Argos outrebounded the Wonder Boys, 48-33. UWF held Arkansas Tech to just eight offensive rebounds and eight second chance points on the night.
Jeremy Hoard (Russelville, Ark./Paris JC) was 5-of-7 for Arkansas Tech beyond the arc while teammate Matt Haney (Dardanelle, Ark./Dardanelle HS) added four triples of his own.
The Argos will break for the Holidays before returning to the court in the UWF Christmas Classic as they host Saint Augustine’s on Dec. 30. To keep up with the latest in Argo basketball and on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.
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