BOX SCORE
 
January 12, 2017
 
LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The UWF men's basketball team needed to hold off a West Alabama second-half surge in order to earn its third win in its last four contests, but the Argonauts clung to a one-possession lead for the final 5:35 to improve to 8-5 on the 2016-17 season.
 
The win for UWF gives the team its highest season win total since 2012-13. West Florida has 15 games remaining on its regular season schedule.
 
Austin Somerfield led UWF in scoring with 19 points. UWF (8-5, 3-5 GSC) also received strong scoring contributions from Rashaan Benson and Darryl Tucker, who each posted 14 points against the Tigers.
 
Tucker tallied his second double double of the season with a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with his 14 points on a 6-for-9 shooting performance.
 
UWF had 10 different players featured in the lineup and seven of those players contributed at least four points.
 
Jahmal Lane led UWA (8-6, 3-5 GSC) with 19 points, but the Argonauts forced the Tigers' leading scorer into eight turnovers.
 
The Argos shot 56.6 percent from the field in the first half to hold off a Tigers team that shot 52 percent during that span. UWF suffered from a cold shooting display in the second half, converting on 8-of-26 attempts. The Argos made up for it by swishing 14-of-18 free throws in the second half.
 
With a 42-34 lead heading into the second half, UWF saw its lead diminish quickly as an 8-0 run for UWA over the second half's first three minutes tied the game at 42-42. West Alabama held a lead for a three-minute span in the second half, but after a pair of converted free throws from Somerfield provided UWF with a 59-57 lead with 7:40 remaining, the Argonauts held on to a lead for the remainder of the contest.
 
Jason Laatsch converted on a free throw with four seconds remaining to give UWF a 71-69 lead before UWA's last-second effort. Benson stole Billy Ingram's inbound pass, forcing the Tigers to foul Tucker. Tucker went 1-for-2 at the line before Johnny Stallworth's buzzer beater attempt was off the mark for the Tigers.
 
Somerfield's 15 second-half points was the team-high for the Argonauts, and his 7-for-9 performance from the line in the second half played a key role in helping secure the Argonauts' win.
 
West Florida will play each of its next three games at home, beginning with a 4 p.m. tilt against defending GSC champions West Georgia on Saturday.  
 
For information on all UWF Athletics, visit GoArgos.com.