PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF men's basketball (9-0, 1-0 GSC) ran away from Spring Hill College (2-6, 0-1 SIAC) in a lopsided 91-59 win at the UWF Field House Sunday afternoon. Moter Deng notched a UWF career-high in scoring with 26 points, and Rashaan Benson finished with his first double-double of the year (13 points/11 assists) as the Argos matched the 1997-1998 UWF team for the longest winning streak to begin a season in program history.
"We didn't play well early. We struggled early in the game to get into a flow, but then we got better as the game went," said UWF head coach Jeff Burkhamer. "Our bench really came in and helped us. Then in the second half I thought we played much more like we're used to playing."
The Argos began the contest on a 21-10 run in the first 10 minutes. Moter Deng started 5-of-7 from the field and registered 11 of the team's first 21 points. Benson piled up five points and four assists in the same opening stretch.
Deng finished the first half with 12 points, two rebounds and one assist. Benson notched 13 points and six assists. Jarrett Henderson registered four points and five rebounds in the first. The Argos shot .474 from the field in the opening half.
The Argos came out strong in the second half, opening on a 14-3 run beginning with four quick points from Deng. He would go on to finish the half with 14 to notch a season-high 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 shooting from the line. He also finished 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
"Our guards up top are really good at swinging the ball and reversing the ball. We were trying to get the ball inside out," said Deng. "My job is to get in the middle and try to make plays out of there. They were getting me good shots, and I had to take those shots."
The contest was the second straight in which Deng has scored at least 20 points. He previously set a career-high of 22 on Dec. 2 vs. Valdosta State.
"Moter is playing terrific," said Burkhamer. "He had a great week last week. He comes back and follows it with another terrific performance. He's just been really good offensively catching it in the high post and scoring, driving the ball, rebounding the ball. He's just playing really, really well right now and with a lot of confidence."
DJ Thorpe scored 11 points in the second to finish with 15 points (5-7 FG, 4-4 3-PT FG) for the game.
The Argos shot 18-of-38 (.493) from the field and 13-of-32 (.406) from beyond the arc. The 13 3-pointers and the 32 attempts from beyond the arc were both season-highs. The .406 mark was a season-high for any game in which the team has attempted at least 10 3-pointers.
"They played zone probably 95% of the game. We put in a couple guys that really shoot the ball well," said Burkhamer. "It was good to see us move the ball and get good shots. A lot of it was inside-out, step-up threes that you want against a zone. Those are practice shots you work on everyday, and we had the right guys shooting them."
The Argo defense matched a season-high with 10 steals. UWF limited Spring Hill to 22-of-57 (.386) shooting from the field. The UWF bench outscored the Badger reserves 33-19. West Florida also took advantage in transition, outscoring Spring Hill 13-0 on fast break chances. The Argos poured in 17 points off 17 Spring Hill turnovers. UWF committed 10 turnovers, but the Badgers were able to translate them into just seven points.
The win was the 14th straight at home and the 16th straight non-conference win for West Florida. UWF men's basketball returns to action Saturday, Dec. 16 at home vs. West Alabama (8-2, 3-0 GSC). Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
#ARGOS#
