DJ Shine scored 18 points as four Argonauts finished in double figures.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Daylon Dickerson’s layup with 17 seconds left in regulation sent West Florida to overtime, but the Argonauts fell 85–83 to Alabama A&M on Thursday night at the AAMU Event Center.
West Florida (2–2) trailed 44–32 at halftime and fell behind by 14 early in the second half. The Argonauts scored 12 straight points to close the gap, then took a 58–57 lead behind an Alex Godley Jr. 3-pointer and six consecutive points from Sano Rutatika.
Alabama A&M (3–1) led 70–64 with 2:15 remaining. Eze Wali made two free throws and Rutatika scored in the lane before Dickerson turned a Bulldogs turnover into the tying layup.
UWF pulled within one in overtime before Bilal Abdur-Rahman hit a 3-pointer with 1:23 left. Jay King made two of three free throws with four seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 85–83. Rutatika grabbed the rebound on King’s third attempt, and time expired with Alabama A&M still ahead by two.
Shine shot 6-of-10 from the field. Rutatika had 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals, Godley hit four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points, and Dickerson added 10. UWF outrebounded Alabama A&M 38–28. James Graham III led the Bulldogs with 28 points, including eight in overtime.
West Florida faces Cleveland State at 2 p.m. CT Friday in its second game of the Bulldog Bash in Huntsville.
