FRIDAY LINKS: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SUNDAY LINKS: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The UWF Men's Basketball team returns home this weekend to face Gulf South Conference foes, Mississippi College and Delta State, on Friday and Sunday.
 
Tip-off on Friday night against the Choctaws is set for 7:30 pm while Sunday's match-up versus the Statesmen is at 4:00 pm.
 
West Florida (2-4, 0-2 in the GSC), is coming off two tough road losses at Shorter and Lee to open league action.  UWF led by 10 in the contest against Shorter before the Hawks went on a 12-0 run to earn the victory, while Flames used a big second half to pull away from the Argonauts.
 
In 2023, UWF is shooting 42 percent from the field (12^th in the league), while holding opponents to the same percentage (fourth in the league).  On the glass, the Argonauts average 35.2 rebounds per contest (eighth in the GSC) and are also eighth in rebounding margin.  West Florida is also sixth in turnover margin in the league.
 
Xavier Washington, a forward from Palmetto, Florida, currently leads the team in scoring (14 points per game), free throws made (37), free throw attempts (57), total rebounds (39) and steals (8).  Tautvydas Kupstas, a transfer from Skidmore College, is first on the squad in made field goals (25) and three-pointers made (15) while Channick Nkoma is dominant on the glass with 6.6 boards per contest.
 
Washington & The Record Book: Washington, has been getting to the free-throw line at a record pace, with his 37 made free throws and 57 free throw attempts being the most in the GSC.  Xavier currently is seventh in the nation in attempts and 16^th in made free throws.  He is on pace to break the school single season record of free throw attempts (219), which is held by Doug Linville, who established the record during the 1968-69 season.
 
Nkoma Attacking The Glass: Nkoma has cleaned up the boards recently for the Argos, recording at least seven rebounds in his last four appearances.  Channick, a senior, had a season-high 10 in his last game against Lee.  On the season, Nkoma is averaging 6.6 rebounds per game, which leads the team and is tied for 10^th in the GSC.
 
About Mississippi College: The Choctaws, led by Randy Bolden in his third season, come into the match-up at 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference action after falling, 66-60, to Christian Brothers on Monday night.  Newcomer, Rashad Bolden, leads MC and the GSC in scoring at 25.4 points per contest, with the sophomore putting up a season-high 30 at Union this past weekend.
 
Mississippi College has also shown an ability to shooting from the outside, as they've registered a 34 percent mark as a squad, good enough for ninth in the league with Cam Brown and Lucas Heflen each recording eight made threes on the year.  Despite ranking last offensively in the league scoring at 63.4 points per game, the Choctaws have been stifling on the other end, with just 65 points allowed per contest, third fewest in the GSC.
 
Series History: Dating back to 2012, UWF is 11-5 against the Choctaws and 6-3 against them at the UWF Field House.  West Florida has won four out of the last five contests, including a 69-62 decision back in January, when Channick Nkoma had five points and a rebound.
 
About Delta State: The Statesmen, led by Coach Mike Nienaber in his fifth season, are 4-1 and 2-0 in the GSC after impressive wins over Christian Brothers and Union.  DSU is third in the league in scoring at 85.6 points per contest, shooting 46 percent as a team.
 
Maalik Cartwright paces the team with 22.6 points per contest (second in the GSC), which is boosted by a 32-point outburst against Kentucky State.  His 61 percent field goal percentage is also third highest in the GSC.  Two other Statesmen, Keithean Brooks and Chris Terrell average over 15 points per game with Terrell nabbing a league-high 16 steals.
 
Series History: The series is tied at 13 wins apiece since 2008, with UWF claiming the last three wins.  Last season, West Florida prevailed in both meetings, which featured a six point, two rebound performance from Nkoma.

Weekend Promotions: There will be a tailgate for both the women's and men's game beginning at 4:30 pm, while Sunday is faith and family day at the Field House which includes a Family 4 pack deal.  Fans can bring their families and get four tickets, four soft drinks and four hot dogs all for 20 dollars.

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