Buzzer Beater Gives UWF 79-78 Win on Second Day at Alaska Invitational

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A buzzer beater by junior Marquis Mathis (Columbus, Ohio/Cincinnati State CC) clinched the win for the West Florida men’s basketball team, as the Argonauts edged King (Tenn.) in a 79-78 victory at the Alaska Invitational on Friday.  Junior Jamar Moore (Coolidge, Ga./Faulkner State CC) scored a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while junior guard Mike Lewis (Upper Marlboro, Md./Eastern Kentucky) added a team-high 20 points.

The Argonauts (1-2) made a furious comeback in the last minute, as King (1-3) led 76-71 with 52 seconds left to go.  Moore drained a three-pointer to make the score 76-74 with 44 seconds on the clock, and a foul by Lewis sent Brandon Goss to the line for King.  Goss made both his free throws, giving King a four-point lead at 78-74.  Lewis then hit a three-pointer of his own on West Florida’s next possession, bringing the Argos within one point with 19 seconds on the clock.

With no other options, junior Anthony Sims (Mobile, Ala./Faulkner State CC) fouled Leo Gedeon with four seconds left, sending Gedeon to the line with a chance to put King up by three.  Gedeon missed both free throws, and after sophomore Terrance Beasley (Pensacola, Fla./Tulane) grabbed the rebound, the Argos rushed up the court and Mathis laid the ball in as time expired, giving UWF the 79-78 win.

The Argos held a huge advantage down low and outrebounded King 49-30, including 19-9 in offensive boards.  Moore and Sims led the way with 12 rebounds each, and Mathis added eight.

Mark Dockery led King with 24 points, and Jason Seymore flirted with a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.

The Argonauts will close out the invitational against host school Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 5:15 p.m. local time.  For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.