PENSACOLA, Fla. - A familiar scenario confronted the UWF men's basketball team in the final minutes Thursday night against Lee University.
This time, it ended well.

The Argos completed a pressure inbound pass with seven seconds remaining, leading into a pair of free throws and held off Lee for a 63-60, gaining their first Gulf South Conference win.

After five losses by eight points or less, including one in overtime and last Sunday's two-point loss at Valdosta State, the Argos (2-8, 1-3 in GSC) broke through in a gratifying way at the UWF Field House.

"Feels good. Just still growing, still trying to figure out each other," said Argos coach Justin Mann, who is in his first full season. "We have to keep learning to play with each other. We have to be more consistent. It's hard as a team. We played 11 guys over 10 minutes (apiece) and it's hard to get in a flow when you're playing 11 guys. We got to figure it out, we've got to be more consistent."

After leading 30-28 at halftime, UWF trailed 52-40 with 10:18 remaining. Mann called timeout and replaced all five players. The next group tied the game with 4:14 remaining and UWF made some clutch baskets to get the lead.

"It was good." Mann said. "We challenged those guys who came back in and those guys came in and they figured it out. I'm proud of all of them that were out there.

"I still wish we shot free throws better (18 of 26 at the line), but we found a way to finish the game."

Both teams missed a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds. The Argos got the ball and a timeout with 11.5 seconds left underneath the Lee's basket.

Guard Ja'Ron Briggs Jr. made a perfect, football-style pass to Eli Brown just beyond the midcourt line. Brown wisely made a sharp turn away from the basket and killed off more seconds while dribbling before getting fouled. He made both free throws with 3.1 seconds left.

"I was just glad we got the ball in bounds and didn't get the five second call right there," Mann said. "But to have a senior (Brown) to grab that and dribble it out was impressive, because a lot of guys would have probably tried to take a layup there. He's smart and dribbled it out and got to the free throw line."

Lee (4-5, 0-5 in GSC) still had a last-second chance after getting a timeout on a throw past half court. But UWF twice got a hand on in-bounds passes to prevent a miracle shot.

"I'm excited for the guys," Mann said. "We've been in a lot of close ones and to be able to figure this out and get this win meant a lot. We do have a tendency to keep fighting and these guys have done that."

Briggs played the most minutes (28) of any UWF player and led the team with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. Elijah Wyche was the Argos other double-figure scorer with 12.

Ten of the 11 players who played scored points. Brown had four points, highlighted by his finish off an inside feed to tie the game at 54 with 4:18 left.

Kyle McElroy's turnaround jumper with 1:18 left, followed Briggs' drive with 47 seconds left both gave UWF a three-point lead down the stretch.

The Argos will face Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the final game before the Christmas break.