MONTGOMERY, Ala. — West Florida secured a 97-84 victory over AUM at the AUM Athletics Complex on Friday night, which marked the final game of the regular season. The Argonauts dominated the paint with 52 points and added 31 points from the bench, concluding their regular season with an impressive 22-8 record.
The game began with both teams exchanging early baskets, with the Warhawks taking a slight edge through consistent scoring in the paint. The first half saw several lead changes, highlighted by a big triple by
Julius Jay King midway through the period for the Argonauts. As the half closed,
Tim Hall Jr.'s tip-in narrowed the gap, and
Aric Demings' buzzer-beater jumper brought West Florida within one point, ending the half at 44-43 in favor of the Warhawks.
West Florida opened the second half strong, quickly erasing the Warhawks' lead with
Anthony Igiede's layup and three-pointer, which pushed the Argonauts ahead 49-48. Demings extended the advantage with a fastbreak layup and free throw, making it 52-48. The visitors maintained their lead, highlighted by a three-pointer from Payne with 5 minutes left, which stretched the score to 80-67. West Florida's defense held firm, and Demings continued to score efficiently, contributing to a decisive 54-point second half. The final score settled at 97-84 in favor of West Florida.
Hall Jr. recorded 10 rebounds and four blocks, showcasing his presence on defense. King scored 17 points, including converting 9 of 10 free throws.
Elijah Wyche added 15 points and dished out three assists, contributing across the board. Demings led the team with 22 points, making 9 of 19 field goals to pace the offense.
Looking ahead, having finished the regular season, the Argonauts will host the quarterfinals of the Gulf South Conference Championships on Monday, March 2. The third-seeded Argos will host six-seed Trevecca Nazarene, with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. Live stats and broadcast will be available on GoArgos.com.
For more information on the UWF men's basketball program, visit GoArgos.com and follow the team on social media at @uwfmbb (Instagram) and @UWFMensBBall (X).
