BOX SCORE

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The UWF Men's Basketball Team battled hard, but ultimately fell, 84-79, to Valdosta State on Saturday inside the UWF Field House.
 
West Florida falls to 7-17 overall and 5-15 in Gulf South Conference play while the Blazers move to 10-14 and 7-13 in the league.
 
Xavier Washington posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead UWF, while Channick Nkoma chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds with Tautvydas Kupstas and Sano Rutatika each scoring 12 points as well.  UWF shot 42 percent from the field, boosted by a 49 percent mark in the second period.

"It's always tough to lose at home, especially against your rival", said UWF Head Coach Justin Mann.  "It was a back-and-forth game throughout, and we knew they really wanted to get the ball inside and I felt our zone did a good job against them.  We got down 11 with four (minutes) to go and we cut it to three with 45 seconds left.  We had a really good look from three but it just did not go down."

The Blazers got off to a quick start, holding a 15-6 advantage at the 13:36 mark of the first half.  UWF would respond and cut the deficit to four just a few minutes later, before VSU grabbed their largest lead of the half at 15 on a free-throw by Latrell Tate, just over three minutes later.
 
Over the next four minutes, a 15-4 run by UWF closed the gap to four points again with 4:43 remaining, while a 6-0 run by the Argos finished the half and sent the teams to the locker room with the Blazers leading, 45-42.
 
Valdosta State once again stretched the lead early in the second half, as the visitors held a nine-point advantage with 14:06 remaining in the contest.  The lead became as large as 15, before UWF once again, battled back.
 
A 12-4 run by the hosts cut the deficit to seven with 3:34 left, with back-to-back three-pointers by Sterling White III and Kupstas made it a three-point game with 1:25 to go.  UWF had an opportunity to tie it with 27 seconds left, but a three by Kupstas was off the mark and Tate clinched the game with two free-throws for the Blazers.
 
Tate led all scorers with 26 points, while four other Blazers scored in double-figures as the visitors shot 48 percent from the floor.  Lee Flenor had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
West Florida had 32 points in the paint and received 35 points off the bench.  They also committed 17 turnovers leading to 17 Blazer points.
 
UWF will return to action on Thursday night as they visit Auburn Montgomery.  Tip-off from AUM is set for 7:30 PM.

"It was a tough outcome but our guy's willingness to fight was there", continued Mann.  Thanks to all of the fans tonight, 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.