PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF men's basketball (26-3) downed Montevallo (15-15) Tuesday in the UWF Field House 83-74 to earn a spot in the GSC semifinals for the first time since 2013. Marvin Jones and Rashaan Benson combined for 45 points as the Argos won the first GSC Tournament game at home in program history.

"Really proud of our players. I thought it was a hard-fought game," said UWF head coach Jeff Burkhamer. "It was exactly what I thought it would be being in the Peach Belt for a number of years playing against Danny Young's teams. I kind of knew what to expect and it was exactly what I thought. It's like going to the dentist. It's just painful, and you've got to find a way to just keep hanging in there and gut it out and grit it out and win the game."

Jones finished with a season-high 25 points (7-14 FG, 7-13 3-PT FG, 4-6 FT). He also grabbed six rebounds and one steal. Benson scored 20 points (5-9, FG, 4-4 3-PT FG, 6-6 FT) while also dishing out a season-best 12 assists. The double-double was his second of 2017-18. Moter Deng scored 15 points (6-12 FG, 3-5 3-PT FG) while also recording three assists and two blocks.

"That just comes from preparation," Jones said of his outstanding game. "Last night, I came in at 9:30, 10 o'clock and got up three hundred makes. I knew this is a big game for us, this is a big time of the year for us, so I have to come in and I have to produce as a senior. "

UWF posted 16 three-pointers in the game, including nine in the second half. The team finished the game just one off the all-time record for most threes in a single contest (17 vs. Carver, Dec. 9, 2003).

In the first, the Argos raced out to a 23-14 lead before enduring a scoring drought that lasted close to seven minutes. The Falcons were able to trim the Argo lead and ultimately build a 35-34 advantage at half. Jones scored 15 of his 25 points in the first on 5 of 8 shooting from deep.

Montevallo increased the advantage to 39-34 90 seconds into the second half before the Argo offense once again found a groove. UWF reeled off a 36-20 run over the next 15 minutes, using strong offensive performances from Benson and Deng, who combined for 30 points in the second, to put the game away.

Darryl Tucker finished the game with six points, seven rebounds and four blocks. DJ Thorpe scored eight points while also dishing four assists and grabbing four steals.

The No. 12 Argos now advance to the semifinals of the GSC Tournament, presented by VisitSpaceCoast.com, for the first time since 2013. The Argos will take on Christian Brothers (21-8) at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama Mar. 3 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $8 for the semifinals and championship game. The Argos previously defeated Christian Brothers 76-66 in Memphis Jan. 15. Last year, Christian Brothers eliminated the Argos from the GSC Tournament in a one-point first round game.

"Christian Brothers is a hard team," said Burkhamer. "We beat them earlier in the year in a hard-fought game, and they beat us last year in the tournament. Our teams are familiar with each other. We expect it to be a hard-fought game. They're a good team, and we're a good team."

For the latest information on the men's basketball program, follow the team on Twitter @UWFMensBBall.

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