MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo junior Shykeem Jackson scored a team-high 14 points to lead the Falcons to a 95-87 win over visiting Georgia College in a Peach Belt Conference contest, which clinched a share of the West Division regular season championship.
The Falcons, ranked No. 16 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II poll, can clinch the West Division title outright for the third year in a row with a win in one of its final two remaining games against Young Harris College.
Montevallo (20-4 overall, 13-4 in Peach Belt Conference) had six players finish with double figures and outrebounded Georgia College 48-32 in the win over the Bobcats.
Jackson scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-7 shooting beyond the arc. Juniors Troran Brown, who dished out a game-high 10 assists, and Larry Slaughter added 13 points each. Brown posted his sixth double-double of the season.
Junior Da-Juan Cooper registered his third double-double of the season after finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Sophomore Ryan May also chipped in 11 points.
Junior Ed'Lexus Collier added eight points and sophomore Kimani Key contributed seven points in the victory.
Georgia College raced out to a quick 16-9 lead following a layup by Terrell Harris with 14:24 remaining in the first half.
Montevallo responded with a 12-0 run, capped with a 3-pointer by Jackson, to take its first lead in the game at 18-16 with 12:15 left in the opening half. The Falcons closed the half with a 32-12 run, capped with a 3-pointer by Key in the final minute, to carry a 50-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Montevallo extended its lead to as many as 28 points in the second half following a dunk by Slaughter, which gave the Falcons a 70-42 lead with 12:54 remaining in the game.
The Falcons led by double digits throughout the remainder of the second half until Georgia College trimmed the Falcons' lead to single digits on a free throw by Terrell Harris with 18 seconds remaining.
Montevallo returns to action in its final home game of the season Sunday, Feb. 23 against Young Harris College.
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.
