Live Stats | Live Video | Game Program

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The UWF Men's Basketball Team will look to clinch a spot in the GSC Tournament as they play host to #23 Valdosta State (12-4) on Friday and Saturday inside the UWF Field House.

West Florida (7-10) is looking to clinch the final spot in the GSC Eastern division, as they currently sit in fifth behind Montevallo.  UM (6-8) travels to Rome, Georgia for a two-game series with Shorter.

UWF is coming off a crucial win at the Falcons on Tuesday by a final of 84-77 behind Wendell Matthews' career-high 35 points, eight rebounds and six blocks.  Matthews moved into a tie for sixth place in Argonaut history for points in a contest and also now sits in third all-time in blocks in a game.  The 35 points and 15 field goals made were the most in a GSC contest this season as well.

Daniel Sofield had 18 points and five rebounds while Tarik Mckelphin put up 12 points and five rebounds to help Matthews in the win.  Kendall Bynum had seven points in his second start of the year.

Swiss Army Knife, Tarik Mckelphin: Through 17 games, Mckelphin is leading the Argos in minutes per game (35.2), free throw percentage (.804), rebounds per game (8.6), and total steals (25).  Tarik is also second on the team in points per game (14.9), assists per contest (2.7) and field goal percentage (.498).  A two-time winner of GSC Player of the Week in 2020-21, Mckelphin is in the top ten of the GSC this season in field goal percentage, blocks, steals and minutes per game.  Mckelphin leads the conference in rebounds per game and total rebounds.

Sharpshooting Dan: Sofield, a sophomore from Jackson, New Jersey, has been lethal from beyond the arc this season.  Daniel has connected on 43.5 percent of his three-point attempts, which is first on the team and third in the GSC.  He is also third in the GSC in three pointers per game with 2.8.  Currently, Sofield is on pace to break in the top-ten in the Argo record books, as he would be in seventh-place in three-point field goal percentage in a season.  The native of New Jersey has hit four or more three-pointers in five different games this year, including a 6-7 performance against Auburn Montgomery on January 9th, 2021.

A Presence In The Middle: Matthews, a 6'5 junior from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota has been on a tear since being inserted into the starting line-up on January 23rd. Including Tuesday night's monster performance, Wendell has scored in double-figures eight different times in games he has started, as the Argonauts have gone 5-4 during that stretch.  For the season, Matthews ranks third among all Argos in scoring (12.7) and assists per game (2.4).  He also leads the team in field goal percentage (.543), free throw attempts (70), and blocks (24).

Scouting Valdosta State:  VSU, led by Coach Mike Helfer, has won their last three contests, which includes a sweep of Auburn Montgomery at the Complex in Valdosta.  The highest-scoring offense in the GSC at 86.3 points per game, VSU has put up 90 or more points eight different times this season.  All-Conference candidate Imoras Agee leads the team with 17.5 points per game, good enough for fifth in the GSC.  The Blazers also rely heavily on the three-ball, registering a league-high 433 three-point attempts, with the team connecting on 37 percent of them, ranking second in the conference.  Guard Cam Hamilton is one to watch from downtown, as he is shooting 41.5 percent from three this season.

Hamilton burned the Argonauts in their first meeting this season, as he went 8-11 from the three-point line, en route to a game-high 29 points.

Series History: All-time, UWF is 10-28 against VSU.  Despite the overall record, West Florida has fared better at the UWF Field House, going 7-9 against the Blazers in Pensacola.  The last time UWF beat VSU was during the 2017-2018 season, when the Argos defeated the Blazers twice.  Mckelphin had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four steals to lead the Argos in the first meeting between the two schools back in January.

For the latest on the UWF Men's Basketball Team, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the Team on Twitter @UWFMensBBall.