BOX SCORE: PDF | HTML
 
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Winning six games in a seven-game span is something the UWF men's basketball team has not done since the 2007-08 season.
 
On Saturday afternoon, UWF achieved that feat in one of the most memorable ways possible by topping No. 24 nationally ranked Delta State, 83-78.
 
"We beat a really good team and an opponent that is hard to play against," said head coach Jeff Burkhamer. "I'm just really proud of our guys. They played their tail off."
 
Deangelo Legrier served as a catalyst both offensively and on the boards, recording the game's lone double double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Moter Deng recorded 18 points on a 7-for-11 shooting night. Jason Laatsch, who played all 40 minutes of the contest, had 15 points to go along with his 7-for-8 showing at the free throw line that gave UWF key points down the stretch.
 
Darryl Tucker had 10 points and six rebounds, including four pivotal offensive boards.
 
UWF and DSU both went 28-for-59 from the field, but UWF's ability to get to the line proved to be the difference. UWF converted 21-of-31 free throws, while Delta State only got to the line on 10 occasions and scored on 16 free throws.
 
West Florida converted 26 second-chance points on 17 offensive rebounds. The Argos also won the battle in the paint, outscoring DSU 40-32, and scored 24 points off turnovers in comparison to Delta State's 19. The Argos fought off a physical Delta State team on the boards, outrebounding DSU 36-31.
 
Delta State led for the first 12:23 of the second half, but a Rashaan Benson layup gave UWF its first lead of the second half at 60-59. The final eight minutes featured six different lead changes, but Legrier and Laatsch combined to pull the game to within one possession and eventually take the lead.
 
Legrier went 1-of-2 from the line, bringing the score to 72-70. After Delta State's John Cornish corralled the rebound, Laatsch was able to steal the ball and swish a three pointer from the corner to give UWF a 73-72 lead.
 
Tucker scored a basket on the ensuing possession, giving UWF a game-changing 6-0 run from 3:48 to 2:27 of the second half.
"We know we can win. This year we go out there a lot more prepared," stated Legrier. "We just go out there and play confident. A lot more confident than we used to play and it's a good feeling to get this win tonight."
 
With the scored at 68-68, it is UWF's second win of the season when tied or trailing with five minutes remaining in regulation.
 
"Those last five minutes were incredible," Laatsch said. "Every possession was crucial and we got stops when we need to. We scored baskets and got big shots when we needed to. Just having that momentum of the crowd was huge also. I'm glad everyone came out and supported us because that was a huge help."
 
UWF travels to Valdosta State for an 8:00 p.m. ET tip against the first-place Blazers on Monday night.
 
For information on all UWF athletics, visit GoArgos.com.