AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team has won their first two conference games of the year on the road, earning an impressive 72-67 win over the #23 team in the country, GRU Augusta, on Saturday.
To open the game up, the Falcons had to survive a shooting barrage from the Jaguars. The first five baskets made by the Jaguars were all three-pointers, including the first three shots of the game, putting the Falcons in an early 9-0 hole.
Montevallo was able to quickly get back in the game, though. A few dunks down low, some made free throws, and a couple of Troran Brown three-pointers put the Falcons on top just minutes after they were down by nine points.
The Falcons maintained their advantage in the first half due in large part to a strong effort off the bench by junior guard Bryant Orange. Orange had nine first half points, shooting 66.7% from the field and draining his lone three-point attempt.
Brown, last year's Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, was right behind Orange with eight points in the first half.
At the break, the Falcons were on top of the #23 team in the country by a lone point, 34-33.
To open up the second half, Montevallo went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from senior Shykeem Jackson.
GRU Augusta did not score their first points of the second half until 4:41 had come off the clock.
The quick start to the half was enough to carry Montevallo to victory, earning the road win over the #23 team in the country, 72-67.
It was a balanced scoring attack for the Falcons. Brown led the way with 16 points and added three assists and three rebounds.
Orange and Larry Slaughter each had 15 points. Slaughter also led the club in rebounds, with nine, and shot 75% from both the field and the free throw line.
Jackson finished the game with 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Ryan May had eight points and led the Falcons with four assists.
As a team, Montevallo outrebounded GRU Augusta 40-25 and outscored them 34-16 in the paint.
Since joining the Peach Belt Conference, this was the first win for Coach Danny Young against GRU Augusta at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Montevallo (6-6, 2-0 PBC) gets to .500 with the win. They will be off the next few weeks before returning to action on January 3, 2015 against Georgia Southwestern.
