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PENSACOLA, Fla. – Darryl Tucker's 21-point, 12-rebound performance for the UWF men's basketball team helped lead the Argonauts a gritty 79-77 overtime win over West Alabama to get back over the .500 hump in Gulf South Conference action. UWF now stands at 12-6 overall and has a 7-6-league mark.
Having beat West Alabama once already on Jan. 12, it is the first time since the 2012-13 season UWF has swept the season series against a GSC opponent. West Florida took a pair of decisions from Shorter during the 2012-13 campaign.
Tucker led the Argonauts in both points and rebounds as the junior transfer recorded his third double double of the year. Three other Argonauts recorded double-digit point totals including
Rashaan Benson with 16 points and
Marvin Jones and
Moter Deng who each poured in 11 points. Benson's four assists led all players in the contest.
On the defensive side,
DJ Thorpe posted a season-high five steals to help shutdown the UWA offense. West Alabama was held to a 26.3 percent field goal percentage in the first half.
West Alabama had two 20-point scorers with Johnny Stallworth and Gavin Robinson scoring 25 and 20 points, respectively. Dominque Alexander recorded 15 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Tigers on the boards.
Things looked grim for the Argonauts with 30 seconds left in regulation, trailing 62-58.
Jason Laatsch swished a three from the right wing and got fouled, but missed the ensuing free throw to make it 62-61.
Deangelo Legrier had the responsibility of inbounding the ball underneath the UWF basket with one second remaining and trailing 64-63. After Legrier's down-court heave, Tucker was fouled and went 1-of-2 from the line to force the game into overtime.
UWF scored first in overtime with a pair of successful free throws by Benson and the Argonauts sustained the lead for the remainder of overtime to hold on for a 79-77 win. It is UWF's second overtime and one-possession win of the season.
UWF overcame a 37 percent shooting performance in the first half with a 48.2 percent showing in the second half and a 57.1 percent connection rate in overtime.
As the Argos grind out the most active part of its 2016-17 schedule, UWF concludes a five games in nine days stretch on Saturday at West Georgia. First tip from The Coliseum in Carrollton, Ga. is slated for 4:00 p.m. ET.
For information on all UWF athletics, visit GoArgos.com.
