Argonauts Prepare for Hatch Mott MacDonald Hoop Classic

November 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

PENSACOLA, Fla. - A pair of Sunshine State Conference opponents are in West Florida's immediate future at this weekend's Hatch Mott MacDonald Hoop Classic at the UWF Field House. West Florida (2-3) will host Saint Leo (2-2) on Friday and Nova Southeastern (2-1) on Saturday.

West Florida is coming off a 63-64 loss to Dillard on Tuesday. Barry Durosier (Orlando, Fla./Niagara Univ.) led the Argonauts with 20 points, while Alessandro Batista (Natal, Brazil/Warner Pacific Univ.) added 12 points. On Wednesday, Durosier earned Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors. He is averaging 24.8 points per game, including a pair of 30-point games this season. Marcus Grant (Axis, Ala./Faulkner State CC) leads the Argonauts with eight rebounds per game.

Saint Leo has won two straight after losing their first two games. Jordan Paris leads the Lions with 13.5 points per game, while Richard Blue has added 11.8 points per game. Saint Leo is only 4-12 all-time against West Florida, but the Lions won the last meeting in Pensacola, a 92-90 win on Dec. 3, 2004 at Pensacola Junior College's Lou Ross Center.

Former Argonaut Donovan Redden will return with Nova Southeastern to face his former team on Saturday. Redden averaged 11 points per game last year in his only season at West Florida. After losing their season-opener, Nova Southeastern has won two straight over GSC opponents North Alabama (108-107) and Valdosta State (96-82). Nova Southeastern will open the tournament against Henderson State on Friday. West Florida is 6-1 all-time against Nova Southeastern.

West Florida's tip-off times for both games is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Follow all of the action of the Hatt Mott MacDonald Hoop Classic with live stats on the men's basketball page of www.goargos.com.