BOX SCORE

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Ankit Choudhary had a season-high 22 points to lead four players in double-figures, as the UWF Men's Basketball Team defeated Auburn Montgomery, 93-89, on Monday night inside the UWF Field House.
 
With the victory, West Florida moves to 7-16 overall and 5-14 in GSC play while AUM drops to 9-14 and 6-13 in league action.
 
UWF shot 51 percent for the field and 48 percent from beyond the arc en route to their 93 points, tied for a season high.  Choudhary and Tautvydas Kupstas each made four three-pointers while Channick Nkoma and Xavier Washington chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Washington registered a double-double with 12 rebounds as well.
 
Sterling White posted a season-high 13 assists, which is tied for the fourth most in a single game in program history and the most since Rashaan Benson recorded 12 in a game against Montevallo in 2018.  It is also the most by a GSC player in a contest this season.
 
"Those are fun games to be a part of", said UWF Head Coach Justin Mann.  "It was back and forth all night long and I am glad we came out with the win.  It was a huge team effort, and our bench was great tonight.  We had four guys in double-figures and a few more knocking on the door."
 
The teams traded baskets in the early going, before AUM grabbed a seven-point lead, the highest margin to that point, with 10:21 to go on a lay-up by Malachi Rhodes.  UWF would respond by going on a 18-6 run over the next seven minutes to take a six-point advantage with just over three minutes left in the half.  The Argonauts would maintain an advantage off a three-pointer by Kupstas to put the game at 43-41, as the teams headed to the break.
 
Both teams would trade punches in the second frame, with neither leading by more than one possession through the first 10 minutes of the period.  Two free-throws by Sano Rutatika would give the Argos a five-point lead with over seven minutes remaining, before things would tighten again as a Joseph Lanzi three-pointer made it a one-point Argo lead with 3:17 left.
 
Auburn Montgomery would re-take the lead on a free-throw by Malachi Rhodes, but UWF responded with five straight points by White and Kupstas.  With the game in balance, Rutatika and White knocked down four consecutive free-throws with under 10 seconds remaining, to seal the victory.
 
UWF outrebounded the Warhawks, 41-29, and received 53 points off the bench.  The Argonauts also had 22 points off 12 Warhawk turnovers.
 
Rhodes led all players with 30 points and five rebounds for AUM, while Travis Anderson finished with 16 points and seven assists as the visitors' shot 49 percent from the field.
 
UWF will close their four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against Valdosta State. Tip-off from the UWF Field House is set for 4 PM.
 
"Hopefully, tonight built some confidence for some of these guys moving forward", continued Mann.  "We have a huge opportunity on Saturday against Valdosta State. Go Argos!"
 
For the latest on the UWF Men's Basketball Team, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @UWFMensBBall.