West Florida men's basketball to play FSU at Pensacola Bay Center
Story by
West Florida men's basketball to play FSU at Pensacola Bay Center
Justin Fitzgerald, Pensacola News Journal
·
3 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
UWF men's basketball will be welcoming one of the state's biggest brands to the Pensacola Bay Center this November.
The Argos will playFlorida Stateon Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. in a matchup both schools are calling The Battle of the Bay.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
"Playing Florida State in Pensacola is an exciting opportunity for our men's basketball program and for the entire UWF community," UWF athletic director Dave Scott said in a press release. "As we begin our new Division I era, matchups like this reflect the caliber of competition our student-athletes will experience while also allowing us to showcase UWF on a much larger stage."
UWF President Manny Diaz speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
UWF field house is now named after PenAir Credit Union after a $1.7M commitment to the University of West Florida in Pensacola.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir Board Chair Stephanie Oram speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
UWF field house is now named after PenAir Credit Union after a $1.7M commitment to the University of West Florida in Pensacola.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir Board Chair Stephanie Oram speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
Renderings of the new football stadium are displayed during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union to the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
UWF President Manny Diaz speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
Renderings of the new football stadium are displayed during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union to the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir Board Chair Stephanie Oram speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
1/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF President Manny Diaz speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
1/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF President Manny Diaz speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
2/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF field house is now named after PenAir Credit Union after a $1.7M commitment to the University of West Florida in Pensacola.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
3/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
4/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir Board Chair Stephanie Oram speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
5/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
6/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF field house is now named after PenAir Credit Union after a $1.7M commitment to the University of West Florida in Pensacola.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
7/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir Board Chair Stephanie Oram speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
8/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
9/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
Renderings of the new football stadium are displayed during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union to the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
10/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF President Manny Diaz speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
11/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
Renderings of the new football stadium are displayed during an event announcing a $1.7M commitment from PenAir Credit Union to the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
12/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
13/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
14/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir Board Chair Stephanie Oram speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
15/15
See PenAir Credit Union commit $1.7M to UWF
PenAir CEO Lee Morgan speaks during an event announcing a major donation from PenAir Credit Union at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Aug. 21, 2026.
(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)
This will be the Argos' first game against a Power 4 school and fills out UWF's first nonconference schedule as a Division I school.
The Seminoles are one of five in-state schools UWF will battle in non-conference play. The Argos will play at Florida International on Nov. 6, at home against Baptist University of Florida on Nov. 9, at South Florida on Dec. 2 and at home against Pensacola Christian College on Dec. 5. Other notable teams on the non-conference schedule include a trip to South Alabama on Nov. 20 and a home game against Navy on Dec. 13.
"Anytime you have the opportunity to compete against a program like Florida State, it's something our players and staff can be excited about," UWF men's basketballhead coach Tanner Smithsaid in a press release. "We're looking forward to competing against the Seminoles and giving our fans another memorable night of basketball in Pensacola."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Battle at the Bay will be the final of three games in the Pensacola Hardwood Series. Florida State is in two of the games, as the Seminoles will play Mississippi State in an exhibition game being branded the Southern Tip-Off on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. South Alabama will play Loyola Marymount in the Coastal Classic at 7 p.m.
New men's basketball head coach Tanner Smith speaks during a press conference at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on April 8, 2026.
Florida State finished 18-15 in its first season under head coach Luke Loucks, who replaced longtime head coach Leonard Hamilton.
"We're also excited to return to the Panhandle in November to play West Florida," Loucks said in a press release. "They're building a new Division I program, and we're looking forward to suiting up and competing against them. Personally, I have a lot of connections to Pensacola, with my wife Stevi being from Gulf Breeze, so being able to bring our team to the community and share Florida State basketball with our fans there makes this opportunity even more meaningful."
