BOX SCORE

ROME, Ga. – The UWF Men's Basketball team battled but ultimately fell late on Saturday afternoon at Shorter, 78-73, inside the Winthrop-King Centre.
 
West Florida drops to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the Gulf South Conference while the Hawks move to 3-3 and 1-0 in Gulf South Action. UWF will travel up to Tennessee to face Lee on Monday night.
 
"I thought the guys came out and played hard", Head Coach Justin Mann said.  "We had good energy, but we just need to execute in critical moments of the game."
 
The Argos struggled from the field, shooting only 39 percent from the field and 21 percent from three-point range but still lead by as many as 10 points midway through the second half.  Xavier Washington recorded the first double-double of the season for UWF with 15 points and 10 rebounds, adding two assists and a steal as well.  Eli Brown added 12 points off the bench.
 
Up eight at the under 12 media time out, things looked good for the Argos before back-to-back threes by Shorter guard, Gary Clay Jr., sparked a 14-2 Hawks' run to put the host's up, 62-58, with 7:27 remaining in the contest.
 
The teams traded buckets before a lay-up by Krei Kyncy and a pair of free-throws by Ian Reith kept the Shorter lead at seven.  UWF got within two on two occasions left in the contest on a Le'Tarion White lay-up and Tautvydas Kupstas three, but it was too late as clutch free-throw shooting by Shorter earned them the win.
 
West Florida led for the majority of the first half, leading by as much as ten after a free-throw by Sano Rutatika at the 9:36 mark.  An Eli Brown lay-up would keep the advantage at eight before a quick run by the Hawks, cut the lead to one on a three-pointer by Reith two minutes later.
 
The lead would change hands twice with neither squad leading by more than four as the score was tied at 40 as the teams went into their locker rooms.  Ricky Knight Jr. led all scorers with 19 points for Shorter. Reith and Clay Jr. added 16 and 15 points, respectively for the hosts.
 
For the latest on the UWF Men's Basketball Team, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @UWFMensBBall.