MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The University of Montevallo men's basketball team (20-6, 10-6 PBC) dropped a back-and-forth contest with 17^th-ranked Georgia College and State University (21-4, 14-2 PBC), 73-65. Senior MarkPlaza (San Diego, Calif./Chula Vista) set another UM milestone as he passed Jamil Jerman (2004-06) for the career record in assists at UM during the NCAA era. Plaza dished out five assists in the game to give him 267 for his career which is two more than Jerman had during his two seasons at Montevallo. The Falcons were led in scoring by senior Freddy Little (Raleigh, N.C./Bunn) who had 22 points while hitting five shots from three-point range.

Junior Tauras Dortch (Ensley, Ala./Ramsay) chipped in 11 points and six rebounds while senior Gerald January (Macon, Ga./Westside) had 10 points and four boards. Senior Jordan Hutchison (Hazel Green, Ala./Hazel Green) had a season-high 10 points off the bench as he hit two three pointers. Junior Cecil Coleman (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech) led the team on the boards with eight rebounds while scoring four points.

The Falcons were out-rebounded 36-31 and gave up 15 second chance points compared to just five of their own.

Both teams struggled to get out of the gate offensively as it took over ten minutes for either team to reach double-figures. The Bobcats scored their 10^th point of the game at the 9:05 mark of the first half while it took the Falcons almost two minutes more as they scored their 11^th point at the 7:29 mark.

The game was tied 14-14 when Hutchison hit the first of his two three pointers to put the Falcons ahead 17-14 with 5:05 to play. UM built on that lead and never trailed the rest of the period as they closed out the first half up 27-23.

The Bobcats opened the second half with a 12-3 run to take a 35-30 lead but it was immediately answered by an 8-0 run from the Falcons. The Bobcats were able to regain the lead minutes later but a three pointer by Little with 8:10 remaining tied the game at 53.

GCSU then went on a 12-4 run to take a 65-57 lead with just 2:50 left in the game. UM was able to cut that lead down to four points on two different occasions but that was as close as they got. The Bobcats hung on in the final minutes to win 73-65.

The Falcons will close out the 2009-2010 regular season this Saturday, Feb. 27 at 3:30 p.m. as they host Columbus State University. CSU is 12-13 overall and 6-10 in the PBC.