MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Malachi Rhodes dropped a career-best 31 points and tied his season-high with 14 rebounds as the Auburn University at Montgomery men's basketball team held off a late rally by the University of West Florida in Gulf South Conference action on Thursday night.

THE WARMUP

Score: AUM 82, UWF 78
Records: AUM 11-15 (8-13 GSC) | UWF 7-18 (5-16 GSC)
Series: The series is tied 12-12
Location: Montgomery, Ala. | AUM Athletics Complex
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HIGHLIGHTS

• Rhodes got off to a hot start as he scored 11 of AUM's first 15 points.
• Both teams battled back and forth in the game's opening 10 minutes, as the lead changed hands six times.
• AUM took its largest lead of the first half, 32-24, at the 7:59 mark of the first half. 
• West Florida owned a 14-9 advantage in the last seven minutes of the first half to make it a one-possession game at the break.
• Back-to-back buckets from Xavier Washington and Le'Tarion White pushed the Argos in front 50-49 with 14:15 to play but AUM responded with a 16-5 run, helped by six points each from Rhodes and Jalen Gaston, to extend the lead to 10.
• A Gaston three-pointer pushed the lead to 12, the largest of the game, with 4:28 to play. 
• The Argos did not back down, however, and trimmed the lead to five with 1:19 to play on a jumper from Tautvydas Kupstas. 
• UWF got within four with 25 seconds left in the contest as the Warhawks struggled to knock down their free throws, but the Argonauts ultimately ran out of time and AUM held on for the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rhodes had 22 points and nine rebounds at the halftime intermission. He finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. 
• The game marked the fifth double-double of the year for Rhodes, his 19th game scoring in double figures, and his fifth 20-plus point effort. It was also his second 30-point game of the season, with both coming against the Argos.
• AUM out-rebounded UWF 43-30, including 21-8 on the offensive glass. AUM also held a 24-9 advantage on second-chance points.
• Both teams battled in the paint, with the edge to AUM 48-36.
• Gaston (16 points) and Jalil Robinson (10 points) added double-digit scoring efforts for the Warhawks.

UP NEXT

• The Warhawks host the final home game of the 2023-2024 regular season against Valdosta State University on Saturday, Feb. 24 as AUM celebrates Senior Day.

-#WeAreAUM-

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