PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Auburn University at Montgomery men's basketball team got 30 points from Malachi Rhodes, but the University of West Florida found a late run to grab an important win down the stretch in Gulf South Conference play. 

Rhodes was 10-for-17 from the floor, went 8-of-9 at the free throw line, and added five rebounds, one assist, and two blocks in 31 minutes of action.

THE WARMUP
Score: AUM 89, UWF 93
Records: AUM 9-14 (6-13 GSC) | UWF 7-16 (5-14 GSC)
Series: UWF leads 12-11
Location: Pensacola, Fla. | UWF Fieldhouse
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HIGHLIGHTS

• After being tied 10-10, a Joseph Lanzi three-pointer, a Travis Anderson three-pointer, and a pair of buckets from Rhodes helped AUM build a 26-19 advantage halfway through the opening half.
• West Florida's Channick Nkoma converted a two-handed dunk to cap a 15-3 sprint from the Argonauts as they took a five-point lead. 
• Down one, Tautvydas Kupstas drained a three-pointer to give UWF a 43-41 halftime lead.
• Each team matched the other nearly shot for shot, as both sides of the scoreboard traded points as AUM edged in front.
• West Florida found a big stretch in which they held the lead, from the 9:43 mark of the second half down to 2:58 to play, as they tried to hold off AUM.
• Both teams battled back and forth, and eight straight points from Rhodes helped pull the Warhawks within a possession with four with 4:09 to play.
• A Lanzi three-pointer at the 3:17 mark trimmed the Argonauts lead to one.
• Rhodes then converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 2:05 to go to give him 30 points for the night and 24 in the second half to keep the Warhawks alive.
• An offensive rebound, a layup, a three-pointer, and a pair of free throws in the final two minutes helped UWF double up the Warhawks 10-5 in the closing minutes to seal the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Malachi Rhodes secured a career-high 30 points. He also posted his fourth game of the year with 20-plus points and his 16th double-digit scoring effort. 
• The Warhawks held the advantage 42-24 in the painted area.
• West Florida won the battle on the boards 41-29.
• The Argos had 22 assists and knocked down 12 three-pointers on the night.
• AUM posted its 13th game with double-digit steals, as they totaled 15 on the night.
• Jelal Williams scored 11 points and was 5-for-5 from the floor, which marked his second career contest in double figures for the Warhawks.

UP NEXT

• The Warhawks travel to Jackson, Tenn. to take on Union (Tenn.) University on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Fred Delay Gymnasium.

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