PENSACOLA, Fla. – UWF’s (5-9, 5-9 GSC) unprecedented 17 turnovers led to their 60-65 loss to Montevallo (5-5, 5-5 GSC) on Saturday at the UWF Field House. 

While four of the five starters all scored double digit points, turnovers in key areas leading to points on the other end of the floor negated West Florida’s scoring. 

“We had some bad turnovers,” UWF men’s basketball coach Jeff Burkhamer said. “Turnovers that, in my opinion, college guys can’t make.”

Starters Cameron Cox, scoring 10 points, and Wendell Matthews, scoring 14 points, combined for over half of West Florida’s turnovers, putting up four and five turnovers, respectively. 

UWF began the game well, leading Montevallo by 10 points and ending the first half up 32-18.

It was the second half where things began to look bleak for the Argos.

At the beginning of the second half, the Montevallo Falcons went on a 19-6 run over the first eight minutes of the half to cut the lead down to one. 

Once the Falcons cut the lead to one, they never trailed by more than three points for the rest of the game. 

“[Montevallo] made some good shots down the stretch and we didn’t,” Burkhamer said. “That’s how you win close games.”

West Florida’s defense kept the scoreline from being lopsided by attempting to keep the Falcons out of the paint while UWF struggled to score.

The combination of turnovers that allowed Montevallo to come back from a 17-point deficit and the lack prominent scoring led to UWF dropping a close game and splitting the two-game homestand.

“We haven’t been good at passing and catching lately,” Burkhamer said. “We’ll go back to working on fundamental things this week and hopefully get ready to play at [Auburn Montgomery].”

West Florida will travel to Montgomery, Ala. for their next game, playing the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks (2-8, 2-8 GSC) at 6p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19.