PENSACOLA, Fla. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team returned to the win column on Monday, defeating the West Florida Argonauts, 68-59. 

Marcellious Lockett and Thaddeus Williams combined for 41 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists to lead UWA (10-9, 6-7 GSC) to their nine-point win over UWF (5-14, 4-9 GSC).

"We have nine games left and we needed this win in a bad way," said head coach Nick Woodruff. "Marcellious showed up tonight and Thaddeus played his tail off."

The first half began with both teams exchanging runs with West Florida throwing the first punch by taking a 5-0 lead. Like he's done all season, Williams lifted West Alabama's offense in the period, scoring seven of the Tigers' first 11 points. Williams carried a 9-0 UWA run before UWF countered with an 8-0 run to take a 15-13 lead at the midway point of the half. After the Argos scored eight unanswered, Michael McIntosh checked in for the first time and gave coach Woodruff great minutes as the Junior Forward helped halt West Florida's momentum with a pair of buckets. All tied at 17, UWF's Shay Davis and Eli Brown got hot from three as the duo combined to shoot 5-6 from deep in the period to propel the Argonauts to a 28-25 lead at the half.

West Alabama shot 48 percent from the floor in the first half while West Florida shot 50 percent from three on 10 attempts.

The Tigers came out playing at a completely different level to begin the second half. Williams scored on UWA's first possession which led to a massive 19-4 West Alabama run, giving them their largest lead of the game at 47-35 with 11:53 left to play. West Florida scored the next eight points before Lockett found his rhythm from three. While already drilling a pair of trifectas in the half, Lockett proceeded to make three more in the period, connecting on his fifth at the 5:27 mark to put the Tigers up, 58-50. Lockett and Williams continued to do damage as the West Alabama duo closed out the Argonauts to secure a 68-59 win for UWA.

Lockett finished with a career-high 23 points, five rebounds, five assists on 8-16 shooting and 5-8 from three while Williams added 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

"This was a grind out win," Woodruff continued. "Conference road wins are hard to get and this was a much needed one. I'm really proud of the guys."

West Alabama will return home to Pruitt Hall on Thursday when they welcome Trevecca Nazarene for a GSC matchup that's set for 7:00 p.m.