MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo junior Ed'Lexus contributed a pair of 3-pointers in overtime on his way to a team-high 23 points as he lifted the nationally-ranked Falcons to a 108-99 win over visiting University of North Georgia in a Peach Belt Conference contest Jan. 8 at Trustmark Arena.
The Falcons, who are ranked No. 13 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II poll, finished 16-of-41 from beyond the arc in the victory. Montevallo finished 5-of-5 from the floor in the overtime session, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, while knocking down 9-of-11 attempts at the charity stripe as it outscored the Nighthawks 22-13 in overtime.
The Falcons (11-1 overall, 4-1 in Peach Belt Conference) reached the century mark for the first time this season with their 108 points, which is the most points scored by Montevallo since a 114-77 win over Mars Hill in its 2011-2012 season opener.
Collier finished 7-of-14 from the floor, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, while dishing out seven assists.
Junior Troran Brown added 21 points while dishing out a career-high 13 assists in the victory. Fellow junior Shykeem Jackson added 17 points and sophomore Ryan May chipped in 13 points.
Senior Orlando Brazier and junior Da-Juan Cooper each contributed a double-double, with Brazier posting 11 points and a team-high 15 rebounds and Cooper registering 14 points and 10 boards.
Junior Silas Mills added nine points and five rebounds.
Ishmael Hollis led North Georgia with a game-high 29 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
North Georgia opened the game with a 12-6 run, capped with a 3-pointer by Lamar Richardson with 14:06 remaining in the first half, which gave the Nighthawks their largest lead in the half.
Cooper drained a jumper with 3:47 left in the half to give the Falcons a 35-29 advantage, which stood as their largest lead in the opening half before the two teams headed into the locker room tied at 39-39 at halftime.
Hollis drove to the basket for a layup with 14:08 left in the game to give North Georgia a 63-53 lead, the only double-digit lead by either team in the game.
The Falcons erased the deficit during the next eight minutes and eventually jumped out to a 85-80 lead following a layup by Cooper with 1:09 remaining in the game. However, the Nighthawks responded with a pair of 3-pointers by Hollis and Travis Core in the final minute to send the game into overtime.
A 3-pointer by Collier with 2:08 remaining in overtime gave the Falcons the lead for good. Collier added another 3-pointer with just under one minute left to make it a two-possession game and clinch the victory for the Falcons.
Montevallo returns to action Saturday, Jan. 11 in a top 25 battle against No. 22 USC Aiken in a Peach Belt Conference contest.
Tip off at Trustmark Arena is set for 3:30 p.m.
