CLEVELAND, Miss.  – The University of West Florida men’s basketball team dropped its second conference game of the season after falling to Lee University 82-76. The Argonauts were led by seniors Ellis Young III (Merritt Island, Fla.) and Nate Johnson (Lincolnshire, Ill.). Young posted his first 20 point game after going 9-19 from the field and scored 22 points while Johnson recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. UWF falls to 0-6 (0-2 GSC) on the season while Lee improves their record to 5-2 (1-0 GSC).

The Argos started the first half hot and went on a 18-6 in the first eight minutes of the game. However, UWF couldn’t maintain the offensive production throughout the entire half and gave up their lead at the end of the half on a last second field goal that gave Lee their first lead since the start of the half. The Argos entered halftime behind 35-34 and had a 44.4 shooting percentage in the half compared to Lee’s 40.0%.

It took the Argos 18 minutes to regain the lead from the Flames when senior Jonathon Gac (Chicago, Ill) made a lay-up to put UWF ahead 69-68 with three minutes remaining. However, that would be the last time West Florida would have a lead and after a 14-8 run in the final three minutes by Lee, the Flames came out on top 82-76.

West Florida shot 43.9% from the field on 29-66 shooting while the Flames shot 44.2% on 23-52 shooting. The Argos out rebounded their opponent 45-27 but turnovers proved to be a key factor when UWF committed 15 while the Flames committed only 9.

Sophomore Savon Bracey (Navarre, Fla.) added 14 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes while Lee’s Corey Billingsley scored a game-high 24 points in 33 minutes.

West Florida will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to take part in the Holiday Hoops Classic Dec. 21-22 to close out the 2013 year. The Argos will face Midwestern State Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. PT and then Central Washington Sunday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. PT to close out the tournament.

For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.

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Newspaper Box Score
West Florida vs Lee University
12/16/13 8:00 pm at Cleveland, Tenn. (Walker Arena)
At Cleveland, Tenn. (Walker Arena)
LEE UNIVERSITY 82, WEST FLORIDA 76
WEST FLORIDA (0-6, 0-2 GSC)
Ellis Young 9-19 4-7 22; Nate Johnson 9-17 0-0 19; Savon Bracey 5-6 4-5 14;
Terrence Townes 2-14 7-8 11; Mario Stramaglia 2-3 0-0 5; Jonathon Gac 2-2
0-0 4; Tyler Funk 0-3 1-2 1; Deangelo Legrier 0-1 0-0 0; Sean Voss 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 29-66 16-22 76.
LEE UNIVERSITY (5-2, 1-0 GSC)
Corey Billingsley 5-7 12-13 24; Valentino Thomas 3-13 6-11 13; Stedmon Ford
4-10 3-3 12; Tyquan Roberts 4-8 1-2 9; Chad Lee 2-4 2-2 8; Brice Sharp 2-3
2-2 6; Jay Marquette 1-2 2-2 4; Muniru Bawa 1-2 2-2 4; Jamal Worthington 1-3
0-0 2; Evan Forhetz 0-0 0-0 0; Bryce Copeland 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-52 30-37
82.
West Florida..................   34   42  -   76
Lee University................   35   47  -   82
3-point goals--West Florida 2-9 (Nate Johnson 1-1; Mario Stramaglia 1-2;
Terrence Townes 0-4; Ellis Young 0-2), Lee University 6-9 (Chad Lee 2-3;
Corey Billingsley 2-2; Valentino Thomas 1-3; Stedmon Ford 1-1). Fouled
out--West Florida-None, Lee University-None. Rebounds--West Florida 45 (Nate
Johnson 10), Lee University 27 (Valentino Thomas 6). Assists--West Florida 8
(Terrence Townes 2; Sean Voss 2; Nate Johnson 2), Lee University 5 (Stedmon
Ford 2; Corey Billingsley 2). Total fouls--West Florida 24, Lee University
18. Technical fouls--West Florida-None, Lee University-None. A-352

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