BAYAMON, Puerto Rico – Despite a game-high 21 points from senior Troran Brown, the nationally-ranked University of Montevallo men's basketball team dropped its season opener against the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon 67-66 in the first of three games on the island Nov. 13.
Brown finished 7-of-13 from the field and 6-of-7 at the charity stripe and dished out a game-high seven assists for the Falcons, who are ranked No. 5 in the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II poll. Montevallo dropped its season opener for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Puerto Rico-Bayamon defeated a nationally-ranked team in its season opener for the second consecutive season. The Vaqueros defeated the Falcons' Peach Belt Conference rival USC Aiken 60-55 to open the 2013-14 season.
Senior Larry Slaughter added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. Fellow senior Ryan May chipped in 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Only three other Falcons appeared in the scoring column in the opener, with junior Malik Fields contributing eight points, senior Shykeem Jackson chipping in five points and freshman Parker Role finishing with three points.
The Falcons, who led 35-32 at halftime, led by as many as 10 points in the second half before the Vaqueros came from behind to secure the one-point victory.
Montevallo shot 52 percent from the field, but just 31 percent from beyond the arc and 61 percent at the charity stripe. The Falcons were outrebounded 35-29 in the loss.
The Falcons will return to action Saturday, Nov. 15 against the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez before ending the trip with a game Sunday, Nov. 16 against the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.
