MOBILE, Ala. – UWF men's basketball (5-0) defeated Spring Hill College (2-2) 71-57 in the Arthur R. Outlaw Center Wednesday night. Rashaan Benson and Darryl Tucker each scored 18 points, and the Argos led for more than 38 minutes in the game, building a lead as large as 25.
UWF came out of the gate red hot, igniting an early 19-0 run after Spring Hill scored the first basket of the game to construct a double-digit lead before the game hit the four-minute mark. Latrell Tidwell starred for the team early, posting six of the Argos' first twelve points.
"We got off to a great start," said UWF head coach Jeff Burkhamer. "Our defense helped us to create some offense. I think our press helped us out early. It was a hard-fought game. They're always tough to play against."
Spring Hill would respond to the early Argos blitz with a 16-4 run of their own to tighten the contest up. The hot-shooting Argos re-opened the lead though, finishing the half with a 22-14 rally to make it 45-32 at the break.
UWF shot 18-of-31(58.1%) from the field in the first. Rashaan Benson led the team in scoring with 11 points. He also chipped in two assists and two rebounds.
"This was his best game of the year," Burkhamer said of Benson's performance. "He was really aggressive and active early… I just thought he played a terrific game tonight."
Tucker netted eight points in the first. Tidwell and DJ Thorpe each posted six points in the first half. Thorpe added two assists and two steals. Tidwell grabbed three rebounds. Henri Ventoniemi snared four rebounds and registered four points.
The Argos once again started hot in the second, beginning the half with an 8-2 run. Benson scored five of the eight points to open the half. The Argos would go on to outscore Spring Hill 26-25 in the second and cruise to the 71-57 win.
Benson matched his season-high with 18 points (6-10 FG, 3-4 3-PT FG). He also dished out four assists and finished with two steals. Tucker also matched his season-high with 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-4 FT). Tidwell notched a season-high seven points (3-5 FG) and led the team in rebounding with a season-high eight, including three on the offensive glass. Moter Deng finished 5-of-9 from the field for 10 points. Thorpe posted six points (2-6 FG) and a season-high six steals. He now has ten steals over the last two games.
West Florida shot 29-of-56 from the field in the game. The 51.8% mark from the field was just 0.1% off the team's season-high, set in the first contest of the year vs. Albany State. UWF maintained the lead for over 38 minutes and built a lead as large as 67-42 with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.
The Argos notched a season-high ten total steals in the game and forced 18 turnovers. The West Florida bench outscored Spring Hill reserves 26-19. The Argos outscored the Badgers 40-20 in the paint.
"We want to play inside out," said Burkhamer of the team's dominant interior scoring performance. "We had a bunch of guys give us good minutes."
UWF knocked down 4-of-9 3-pointers for a 44.4% mark beyond the arc, the team's best percentage of the season. The Argos outrebounded Spring Hill 30-21, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds to make it the third straight game posting double-digits in that category. 2017-18 is the second straight season that the Argos have begun 5-0.
West Florida travels to Valdosta, Ga. this weekend for the Valdosta State Thanksgiving Classic. The Argos take on Webber University at 1:00 p.m. Central Time on Saturday and then play Fayetteville State at 1:00 p.m. Central Time on Sunday.
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