FORT VALLEY, Ga. – Austin Somerfield turned in a career performance with 35 points and 18 rebounds to lead the West Florida men's basketball team, but the squad came out on the losing end in dramatic fashion for the second-straight day, dropping a 82-81 overtime contest to Fort Valley State at the HPE Arena Saturday.
               
UWF held an 81-80 lead in the extra session after Somerfield made 1-of-2 free throws with 19 seconds left. The Wildcats came down and went ahead 82-81 on a Tyler Edwards layup with 12 tics remaining. The Argos inbounded the ball quickly and got it into the post for post man Lendward Griffin. The graduate student took a lot of contact on the shot but saw the ball bounce off the rim before time expired.
 
"We played well enough to win and couldn't get the key stop or key basket when we needed it," UWF head coach Jeff Burkhamer said.
 
The outcome spoiled one of the more remarkable individual games in UWF history. Somerfield's 35 points are tied for the eight-highest in a game while the 18 boards are tied for the fifth-most in UWF annals. The junior transfer from Owens Community College was 14-for-22 from the field and 7-for-12 at the free throw line as he played all 45 minutes.
 
Griffin and junior Mario Stramaglia finished with 13 points each. Freshman Rashaan Benson came off the bench to contribute nine points and seven assists.
 
UWF (0-2) shot 44 percent but was just 3-for-19 from 3-point range. The Argos did hold a 44-39 edge on the glass and 46-37 scoring advantage in the paint.
 
The Argos largest lead came midway through the second half when an 8-0 run gave them a 48-41 lead with 12:08 left in the period. FVSU regained the lead three minutes later at 52-50, but UWF responded and led by seven with 5:30 on the clock and four with 58 seconds remaining. The Wildcats forced the overtime on a Dareial Franklin layup with four seconds to play and a 74-74 tie.
 
After FVSU opened the extra session with a basket, UWF surged ahead 80-76 on a pair of Griffin layups and a Somerfield make with 3:00 remaining. The Argonauts missed their next four shots before Griffin's final attempt.
 
The game had five ties and seven lead changes. The teams were tied at 32 after the first half.
 
UWF have a week off from game action before playing host to Spring Hill in its home opener on Monday, Nov. 23. Tipoff at the UWF Field House is set for 7:30 p.m.