CLINTON, Miss. – The West Florida men's basketball team lost a halftime lead but came back to force overtime before losing to Delta State 72-69 on the road in Cleveland, Miss. Saturday evening.
 
"I was extremely happy with the team's improved performance," said UWF coach Bob Stinnett. "I loved everything we tried to do. We did enough to win, but the difference in the game was free throws. They shot 84 percent, and we shot 66 percent."
 
The Argonauts (5-7, 1-5) led 33-26 at halftime, but the Statesmen (7-5, 4-2) took the lead late in the second half. UWF took a 58-56 lead with 1:36 remaining but DSU scored four unanswered before UWF tied it again, 60-60, with 44 seconds remaining. DSU missed a pair of jumpers in the remaining seconds before the game went into overtime.
 
UWF trailed the entire overtime period, but cut the lead to one, down 70-69 with six seconds remaining, before DSU scored two more unanswered.
 
Erin Straughn (Pensacola, Fla./East Carolina) recorded the first double-double of his UWF career, leading UWF with 29 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Demetrius Moore (Paxton, Fla./Indiana State) totaled 13 points and seven rebounds, and Lendward Griffin (Jacksonville, Fla./Ribault HS) scored nine with eight rebounds.
 
"The team worked their buns off, and they did everything they were supposed to do," Stinnett said. "It's a game you hate to lose, but it's a game you can live with because of their effort. If we play that way after Christmas break, we'll be ok."
 
UWF will host Union (Tenn.) Jan. 3 and Christian Brothers Jan. 5 at the UWF Field House.
 
For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.