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PENSACOLA, Fla. – The West Florida men's basketball team had four players in double figures and used a 13-2 run over the final 3:21 to come away with a 78-73 win over Spring Hill in the home opener at the UWF Field House Monday night.
 
UWF trailed 71-65 following a 4-point play by Spring Hill's Jared Holland with 3:21 to play. The Argos then reeled off 9-consecutive points, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Mario Stramaglia that gave the home team a 74-71 lead – its first since the 4:35 mark of the first half – with 1:04 on the clock. The junior finished the game with four triples and 16 points.
 
A Jarrett Calhoun basket trimmed the UWF margin to 74-73 with 35 tics remaining. From there, freshman Rashaan Benson and graduate student Lendward Griffin were perfect on four free throws to secure the first win in coach Jeff Burkhamer's first season at UWF.
 
UWF (1-2) shot 44 percent in the game and 55 percent from outside, including 4 of 6 after halftime. The Argos also made 28 of 37 free throws for 76 percent. UWF outrebounded SHC 40-31, including 15-12 on the offensive end.
 
In addition to Stramaglia's big game, Griffin finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, while junior Austin Somerfield had 14 points and eight boards and Benson added 13 and four assists off the bench.
 
SHC (1-4) used strong outside shooting to create distance from UWF for much of the game. The Badgers made nine 3-pointers but were just 3 or 8 in the second half. Sawyer Glick had 22 points and three steals to lead the visitors from Mobile, Ala.
 
SHC led 36-33 in a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes that saw 11 lead changes and four ties.
 
After being off for the past eight days, UWF will not play against until next Wednesday, Dec. 2 when it hosts preseason Gulf South Conference favorite Alabama Huntsville in a women's/men's doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.