BOX SCORE

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Xavier Washington had a career-high, 27 points and 15 rebounds, but it was not enough as the UWF Men's Basketball team fell, 77-72, to Mississippi College on Friday night inside the UWF Field House.  
 
UWF drops to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in Gulf South Conference play while MC improves to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the league. The Argos will return home on Sunday afternoon to face Delta State at 4 pm at the UWF Field House. Sterling White added nine points and a team-high six assists with Channick Nkoma having seven rebounds as well.
 
"it was a great back and forth game", said UWF Head Coach Justin Mann. "Unfortunately, they (MC) made free-throws down the stretch when it mattered most and we had some open shots that just did not fall for us.  I love the fight and hopefully when we clean up the mistakes, the good things will happen."
 
Keith Hoffman's three-pointer with 1:02 to remaining in the second half capped a 5-0 run to force the contest into overtime.  Mississippi College then outscored UWF 13-8 in the extra period with a pair of Rashad Bolden free-throws sealing the game for the Choctaws after a long three-pointer from Tautvydas Kupstas was just long.
 
West Florida shot 38 percent for the contest which included a 40 percent mark in the first frame as the Argos went to the break, up, 34-31, buoyed by Washington's 10 points.  MC opened the second half on a 10-0 before a Washington free-throw and a Kupstas three cut the deficit to one with 12:18 left.  Another trey by Kupstas tied the game five minutes later with UWF not tying the contest again until the Hoffman three.
 
The Choctaws were led by Bolden who had a near triple-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Cam Brown added 14 points on three-for-five shooting as part of MC's 43 percent mark from the three-point line in the second mark.
 
Mississippi College held the rebounding advantage,43-38, while UWF received much needed depth with 19 bench points and had nine points off 10 turnovers.  Six Argos recorded at least one steal. Washington helped UWF at three free-throw line, knocking down 12 of the team's 17 free throws.
 
"We appreciate all the fans who came out tonight and supported us and we hope to see them when we face Delta State", Mann closed.
 
For the latest on the UWF Men's Basketball Team, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @UWFMensBBall.