March 3, 2018: 2018 GSC Men's Basketball Championship - Semifinal 2 -Christian Brothers vs West Florida
Gulf South Conference

Men's Basketball

No. 9/12 UWF Men's Basketball Heads To Saint Leo Crossover Classic

Benson closing in on all-time assist record as the Argos battle Spartans, Lions

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PENSACOLA, Fla. –
No. 9/12 UWF men's basketball will travel to Saint Leo, Fla. this weekend for a pair of games at the Saint Leo Crossover Classic. The Argos battle Tampa Friday at 5:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. CT and then close the weekend vs. the host Lions Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT.
 
West Florida is coming off a 2-0 weekend at the GSC-SIAC Crossover. The Argos (2-0) defeated Fort Valley State 77-56 last Friday. Six players, including all five starters, scored in double figures. UWF downed host Albany State 63-59 last Saturday behind a career-best 23 points from Henri Ventoniemi.

ARGONAUTS ENTER D2SIDA POLL AT NO. 9
* UWF entered the first D2SIDA Men's Basketball National Media Poll of the year at No. 9. The Argos are now ranked in the top 12 of three different national polls.
* UWF men's basketball checked in at No. 9 in the Division II Bulletin preseason poll released in early October.The No. 9 ranking matches the highest in program history. The team was also No. 9 in the both the D2SIDA and NABC polls at different points last season. UWF entered the first National Association of Basketball Coaches preseason poll at No. 12.

BENSON MAKING HISTORY
* Senior guard Rashaan Benson has scored 26 points over the first two games of the 2018-19 season and now stands at 919 points.
* He surpassed Ellis Young III (911 points) at last weekend's GSC-SIAC Crossover for 7th on the all-time Argonaut scoring list.
* Benson has also registered 10 assists this year. He now stands at 406 for his career and is just five assists away from matching the all-time career assists record at UWF held by Deondre Boynton (411).
 
HOME OPENER SET FOR NOV. 20
* UWF will open its 2018-19 home schedule November 20 vs. Spring Hill. The contest will be the first of three straight at home for UWF.
* The homestand will also feature the GSC openers vs. Christian Brothers Nov. 29 and Union (Tenn.) Dec. 1.
 
SCOUTING TAMPA
* The Spartans are 2-0 overall this season. The team has recorded a 63-61 win over Montevallo and a 63-56 win over Alabama Huntsville this year.
* Tampa is currently led by Pat Bacon (15 PPG) and Vincent Biffle (14 PPG). The Spartans have four players currently averaging at least nine points per game.
* UT is led by Richard Schmidt, who is celebrating his 35th season as the University of Tampa head men's basketball coach.
* The Spartans are coming off a 10-16 season in 2017-18. The team went 6-14 in Sunshine State Conference play.
* UWF is 2-2 vs. Tampa since 2005. This will be the first meeting between the two programs since 2008.

SCOUTING SAINT LEO
* The host Lions are 0-2 so far this season. Saint Leo has a 69-57 loss to UAH and a 74-66 loss to Montevallo on its resume.
* The Lions are coming off a 12-19 season in 2017-18 in which they went 8-12 in Sunshine State Conference play.
* The Lions are coached by Vince Alexander, who currently holds a career head coaching record of 328-224 in his 20th season. He has coached the Lions since 2015.
* The Argonauts are 3-0 vs. Saint Leo since 2005. This is the first meeting between the two programs since 2007.
 
For the latest on UWF men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter @UWFMensBBall.
 
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Players Mentioned

Rashaan Benson

#11 Rashaan Benson

G
6' 0"
Junior
Henri Ventoniemi

#40 Henri Ventoniemi

F
6' 10"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Rashaan Benson

#11 Rashaan Benson

6' 0"
Junior
G
Henri Ventoniemi

#40 Henri Ventoniemi

6' 10"
Junior
F