PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF men's basketball (10-0, 2-0 GSC) won a double overtime thriller 75-72 vs. West Alabama (9-3, 3-1 GSC) Saturday afternoon in the UWF Field House. Jarrett Henderson hit four straight free throws in the final stretch of the second overtime to help UWF turn a one-point deficit into an impressive three-point win.
Moter Deng scored 18 points, all in the second half and overtime, to lead UWF. He shot 5-of-9 from the field after the halftime break. Darryl Tucker notched his fifth double-double of the year with 17 points (6-14 FG, 5-8 FT) and 15 rebounds. Shondell Jackson registered 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-2 3-PT FG). DJ Thorpe scored 11 points (5-10 FG) and matched a season-best with six steals.
The ten straight wins to start a season are the most in program history. The win was the 15th straight at home for the program. It was also the fifth straight overtime win for the program.
The Argos built a 24-19 lead after a hard-fought first half. Tucker paced the team in the first with eight points and nine rebounds. The Argos shot .355 from the field in the first vs. .318 for West Alabama. The teams combined for 23 turnovers in the first half.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes, Deng exploded for 14 points in the second. A Rashaan Benson floater put the Argos up 58-55 before a three-pointer by Charles Eaton equaled the game at 58-58 with 11 seconds to go. Tucker nearly ended the contest in regulation with a putback as time expired off a Benson miss. His second chance fell short though, and the Argos went to their second overtime game of the season.
A late three by Jake Jobling equaled the first overtime at 66-66, and West Alabama opened a 72-71 lead in the second extra period. Sent to the line with 14 seconds left, Henderson knocked down two huge free throws to put UWF up 73-72. Deng would then block a layup attempt by Gavin Robinson. Henderson, who scooped up the ball after the rejection, was then fouled with six seconds to go. He hit both free throws to give the Argos a 75-72 lead they would not relinquish.
The Argos made 7-of-9 free throws in the two overtimes vs. 5-of-12 for West Alabama. UWF outrebounded the Tigers 15-12 in the game's final ten minutes. Deng, Jackson and Henderson all scored four points in extra time, and Deng grabbed six overtime rebounds. UWF secured the victory after playing the entire second overtime period without Benson and Tucker, who each fouled out in the first overtime.
UWF notched a season-high 15 steals. The Argos bench outscored the Tigers' reserves 38-13. UWF forced a season-high 26 turnovers and turned them into 27 points. The Argos limited West Alabama to 6-of-27 shooting from beyond the arc. West Alabama, which entered the game as the GSC leader in free throw percentage, shot .500 from the line while UWF shot 19-of-25. The contest was the first double overtime game of the season for UWF.
West Florida returns to action at home vs. Montevallo to close out the first semester schedule Dec. 18. Tip-off vs. the Falcons (6-6, 1-2 GSC) is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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