Argos Move on to GSC Semi-Finals after 72-66 Win Over Lions

March 2, 2012

Moore Finishes One Point Shy of Second Straight Triple-Double, Three Argos Finish in Double-Figures

Martell Buie led the Argos with 17 points, just one shy of his career high (Photo by Chris Nelson).

Related Item: Box Score

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Coach Bob Stinnett put West Florida in the history books in more than one way in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Post-Season Tournament with a thrilling, 72-66, win over North Alabama.

The Argos, who are participating in their first conference tournament since the 2003-04 season, picked up their first win in the GSC post-season event since the 2001-02 campaign. The 19th win of the year for West Florida also marks the team’s winningest season since 1997-98, when the Argos had their first and only 20 win season.

Jamar Moore (Coolidge, Ga./Faulkner State CC) again led the Argos, finishing just one point shy of his second triple-double with 12 rebounds, 11 assists and nine points. Martell Buie (Orlando, Fla./Wallace State CC-Hanceville) led UWF in scoring with 17 points while Terrance Beasley (Pensacola, Fla./Tulane) and Anthony Sims (Mobile, Ala./Faulkner State CC) each finished with 12.

The fourth seeded Argonauts will move on to the GSC Semi-Finals, facing top seeded Alabama-Huntsville who defeated Delta State in its opening round game. UAH is ranked No. 1 in the South Region and third overall in the nation.

Down the stretch in the first round game, North Alabama, who ends its season at 15-12, held a three point lead over the Argos with just over four minutes to go, 66-63. Buie then cut the lead to one with two made free throws before Keldric White (Pensacola, Fla./Louisiana-Lafayette) gave West Florida the lead for good,67-66, with 1:48 to go.

Buie picked up a defensive rebound on the other end and was good on 1-of-2 free throw-attempts to put the Argos up by two. Two more missed shots for UNA gave the Argos the ball with Buie connecting on two free throws to extend the West Florida lead to four with six ticks left on the clock.

Moore then missed on a 1-and-1 from the free throw-line but scrambled back on defense, picking up the ball as the Lions crossed half court to give the Argos possession.

The senior Sims then put in a pair of clutch shots from the charity strip as the Argos advance with the 72-66 win.

The game saw 12 ties and 15 lead changes with the first half seeing the majority of those. A Marquis Mathis (Columbus, Ohio/Cincinnati State CC) layup gave the Argos the 39-37 lead just before the half as Lion Nick Lutrell quickly erased that lead just seconds into the second period.

UWF then led or had the game tied from the 17:11 mark to the 5:14 mark when a Theron Jenkins three gave the Lions a 64-63 lead. Beasley tied it up briefly before UNA grabbed the lead back and held it until the White free throws.

West Florida led in bench points, 16 to the Lions’ 12, with Mike Whisman (Kissimmee, Fla./Celebration HS) and White each putting in eight. The Argos also won in the rebound category, 43-35, as well as points in the paint, 38-28.

Despite shooting only 43 percent from the field, the Argos strung together one of their cleanest games of the season, committing just six turnovers.

Saturday’s game will take place at 7:30 p.m. with live stats, audio and video available at www.GoArgos.com.