FRIDAY: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | GAME NOTES
SUNDAY : LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | GAME NOTES
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The UWF men's basketball team (16-1, 8-1 GSC) returns home Friday and Sunday for contests vs. West Georgia (8-8, 3-6 GSC) and Auburn Montgomery (7-9, 3-6 GSC). The No. 10 Argos will take on West Georgia Friday at 7:30 p.m. and battle Auburn Montgomery Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Both games will be available at goargos.com/live.
UWF is coming off a successful road trip to Tennessee, during which it scored victories over Union and then-No. 18 Christian Brothers. DJ Thorpe led the way in the 75-61 win in Jackson Saturday, matching a career-best with 22 points. Moter Deng starred for the Argos on Monday, scoring a career-high 26 as the Argos took a critical matchup with Christian Brothers 76-66 in Memphis.
TIME CHANGES THIS WEEKEND
* UWF and West Georgia will now play their doubleheader at the UWF Field House on Friday, beginning with the women's game at 5:30 p.m. and the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
* The games against Auburn-Montgomery will now be played on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
* Friday vs. West Georgia at 5:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.:
* "Green Out" with fans asked to wear Green to the games.
* $5 Publix Gift Card for anyone who donates to the Argo Pantry/Whataburger Canned Food Drive using the collection boxes in the UWF Field House lobby
* Free Green Argo T-Shirts to the First 200 Fans at each game
* Triple Argo Armada Points for anyone who checks in using the SuperFanU Student Rewards System
* Sunday vs. Auburn-Montgomery at 2:00 p.m./4:00 p.m.:
* Free UWF Drawstring Bag for all fans
* Scout Day - Free Argo Scout Badge to all scouts in attendance
* Firehouse Sub voucher to first 50 UWF students
*Postgame autographs following both the women's and men's games
ARGONAUTS MOVE INTO NATIONAL TOP 10
* For the first time in program history, the UWF men's basketball team has entered the Division II Sports Information Directors of America Top 10. The Argos (16-1, 8-1 GSC) checked into the latest edition of the D2SIDA poll released Tuesday at No. 10.
* The Argos moved up four spots in the latest edition of the D2SIDA poll. The team checked in last week at No. 14. UWF was ranked No. 15 last week in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll and has moved up to No. 13 this week.
* No. 10 UWF is currently tied with Valdosta State for the top spot in the Gulf South Conference. Both teams are 8-1 in GSC play. West Alabama sits in third at 6-3. Valdosta is the only other GSC school ranked in the D2SIDA Top 25, checking in at No. 19. The Blazers are ranked No. 21 in the NABC poll. Christian Brothers also appeared in the NABC poll, achieving a No. 22 ranking. UWF is also the highest-ranked South Region team in each poll.
ARGONAUTS WIN AT UNION
* DJ Thorpe tied his career-high with 22 points and UWF was dominant on defense in the second half of a 75-61 win over Union at Fred DeLay Gymnasium Saturday night.
* UWF snapped a four-game losing skid to the Bulldogs in Jackson and won the battle down low, scoring 36 points in the paint while getting to the free throw line 28 times – making 19.
* Thorpe seemed to be a little bit of everywhere on Saturday, grabbing five steals and eight rebounds to go along with his third 20-point game of his 2-year UWF career. It was the fourth time he has had at least five thefts in a game. He entered averaging 2.9 per game to rank fourth nationally.
* In the second half, leading scorer Darryl Tucker made his presence felt, scoring 10 of his 16 points to help UWF expand on its advantage. The Argos had runs of 6-0 – all from Thorpe – to start the half and another larger 8-0 stretch later that saw them claim a 58-42 lead with 10:03 left. Tucker scored nine-consecutive for the Argos as the lead ballooned to 65-45. The Bulldogs never got closer than 11 the rest of the game.
ARGOS WIN AT NO. 18 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
* Moter Deng tied his career high with 26 points to help lead No. 15/14 UWF past No. 18 Christian Brothers, 76-66, at Canale Arena on Monday.
* Deng had 18 on 7-of-8 shooting after halftime, including a stretch of 10 during a 12-2 run that put UWF ahead 55-45 and created some much needed separation in a game that had seen 12 lead changes and seven ties up to that point. He also added a game-high eight rebounds.
* UWF shot a season-high 58 percent while improving to 5-1 on the road and 16-0 when scoring at least 70 points. The win also marked the first at CBU in eight all-time games dating back to 2012.
GULF SOUTH LEADERS
* No. 10 West Florida is currently tied for first place in the GSC with No. 19 Valdosta State. Both squads are 8-1 in conference play.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
* The Argos have won 18 straight at home dating back to Jan. 2 last season and are rapidly closing in on the all-time program victory for consecutive home wins (19), which was established during a stretch from Dec. 1967-Dec. 1969. This year's UWF team has already re-written program records for longest overall winning streak and longest winning streak to start a season.
* The Argos did not lose a single game at home in the 2017 calendar year.
* The Argos are currently tied for the sixth-longest active win streak at home in NCAA Division II men's basketball.
"IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR…"
* UWF men's basketball enjoyed the best winning percentage of any Gulf South Conference program during the 2017 calendar year. The team went 26-5 during 2017 to finish with a winning percentage of .838 and top the list of GSC teams. Valdosta State came in second at 27-6 (.818).
ARGOS PURSUE SINGLE-SEASON PROGRAM RECORDS
* DJ Thorpe has registered 51 steals through 17 games so far this season. The mark puts him on pace to shattering the Argo record for most steals in a single season since 1994, set by Marcus Grant during the 2006-2007 campaign. He posted 62 steals that season.
* Darryl Tucker is currently shooting .615 from the field. If maintained, this percentage would place him fifth all-time in program history for a single season. The record (.673) since 1994 was set by Anthony Russell in 1997-1998. Tucker is also averaging 9.6 rebounds per game. If maintained, this pace would tie him for fourth in UWF program history since 1994. Tucker has posted 21 blocks already this season and is on pace to finish in the top 10 for a single season in program history in that category. The record holder for a single season is Charles Bouie, who racked up 93 rejections in 2007-2008.
* Rashaan Benson has posted 5.2 assists per game so far this season. If maintained, this average would tie him for seventh in program history for a single season. The leader since 1994 for assists per game is Moochie Norris, who averaged 8.9 per contest in 1995-96. Benson has 311 career assists at UWF and is within 27 of tying Todd Johnson (1997-1999) for second on the all-time career list.
* UWF is surrendering just 66.2 points per game this season. The team is within striking distance of the Argo record for fewest points allowed on average in a single season. The record is currently held by the 2003-04 team, which allowed just 64.6 per game.
SCOUTING WEST GEORGIA
* West Georgia is 8-8 overall and 3-6 in conference play. The team is 6-2 at home and 2-0 on neutral floors but 0-6 away. The Wolves are coming off a thrilling 122-118 win in triple overtime vs. Alabama Huntsville. The Wolves have won three of their last four. This stretch includes 113-72 win over Carver on Jan. 7 and a 103-100 win over Auburn Montgomery Jan. 9.
* The Wolves return only one letter winner from last year's team, which went 10-18 and 4-11 in GSC play. The returner is Aren Ulmer.
* West Georgia is second in the GSC in points scored per game at 86.9. The team ranks last in points surrendered at 86.8. The Wolves are third-to-last in the conference in field goal percentage at .437 and second-to-last with an opponent field goal percentage at .478. The Wolves are third in the GSC in rebounding at 39.1 per game and are also third in offensive rebounds (12.3 per game). The team also surrenders the second-most rebounds per game (40.6). West Georgia is second in the GSC with 4.25 blocks a game.
* Marquill Smith is second in the GSC with 21.2 points per game. William Sides is sixth with 17.8 points per game. Smith is fifth in the conference with 8.1 rebounds per game and 12th with a .475 FG percentage. Sides is seventh in the conference with a 3-PT FG percentage of .357. He averages 2.7 threes a game, the sixth-most in the Gulf South.
* Aren Ulmer is third in the Gulf South with 4.9 assists per game. Ulmer is tied for second with 1.9 steals per game. Karlos Odum is eighth in the GSC with 1.2 blocks per game.
* The Argos are 11-13 vs. West Georgia since 2006. UWF is 7-2 at home vs. West Georgia since 2009. UWF went 2-0 vs. the Wolves last season.
SCOUTING AUBURN MONTGOMERY
* Auburn Montgomery checks in at 7-9 and is 3-6 vs. GSC opponents this year. The team is 2-3 at home, 5-4 away and 0-2 on neutral floors. The Warhawks scored an impressive 77-68 win over then-No. 5 Christian Bros. on Jan. 2 but have dropped three of four since. Auburn Montgomery most recently defeated North Alabama 96-89 Jan. 15.
* Last year's team went 7-19. This year's squad features six newcomers, plus Eubanks, who sat out last year while recovering from injury.
* Auburn Montgomery features four players who average double figures. The team is led by Reagan Eubanks, who averages 16.3 points per game.
* The Warhawks are being outscored by opponents, on average, 83.1 - 78.0. The team is being outrebounded this year, on average, 37.9 - 33.4.
* The Argos are 3-0 vs. Auburn Montgomery dating back to 2005. UWF went 2-0 against the Warhawks last year.
GSC/NCAA LEADERS
* Darryl Tucker currently leads the GSC with 9.6 rebounds per game. Tucker also leads the GSC in field goal percentage at .615. He is tied for seventh in the GSC with 1.2 blocks per game. He is 14th with 15.7 points per game.
* As of Jan. 17, Tucker is tied for 26th nationally in field goal percentage at .615. He is 32nd in rebounds per game at 9.6. He is 25th in total rebounds nationally at 163.
* Moter Deng has hit 46 of 53 free throws so far this year. His .868 mark from the line is the third-best in the conference.
* DJ Thorpe is first in the GSC with 3.00 steals per game. As of Jan. 17, he is fifth nationally in steals per game. He is fourth nationally with 51 total steals.
* Rashaan Benson currently ranks second in the GSC with 5.2 assists per game and is tied for fifth in the conference with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.1. He is 11th in the conference at 33.8 minutes per game. He is 40th nationally with 5.2 assists per game.
* West Florida has surrendered 66.2 PPG so far this year, the second-best mark in the conference. The team's 12.2-point average margin of victory is the second-best mark in the GSC.
* UWF is currently second in the GSC in offensive rebounding with 12.9 per game. The Argos have the second-best turnover margin in the GSC, currently at +3.59 per game.
* The Argos lead the conference in steals at 8.35 per game. West Florida has held opponents to a .418 shooting mark from the field, the third-lowest percentage in the conference. The team has held opponents to a .329 mark from beyond the arc, the third-best mark in the conference. The Argos average 4.00 blocks per game, the third-highest mark in the conference.
* As of Jan. 11, the Argos rank tied for sixth nationally with a .941 winning percentage. The Argos are tied for 25th nationally with +3.60 turnover margin. The team is 25th nationally in steals per game at 8.67. West Florida is 21st in scoring defense, is 29th in total steals, is 42nd in offensive rebounding, and 34th in scoring margin. The team is 29th in free throw attempts at 419. The team is 18th in turnovers forced with 17.29 per game.
#ARGOS#
