SCORE

Lander 71, Montevallo 70

RECORDS

Montevallo (19-9)

Lander (21-9)

LOCATION

Frank G. Lumpkin Center (Columbus, Georgia)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lander opened the game with a 9-2 run, capped with a layup by Tobiasz Hose with 16:27 remaining in the first half.
• The Falcons responded with a 24-12 run, capped with a layup by senior Malik Fields at the 6:07 mark in the first half, which gave Montevallo a 26-21 lead.
• A 3-pointer by sophomore Vaughn Autry gave the Falcons a 33-24 lead with 4:15 remaining in the first half, which marked the Falcons' largest lead in the half.
• The Bearcats closed the half with a 12-6 run and trimmed the Falcons' lead to 39-36 at halftime following a 3-pointer by Travis Fredimon with 18 seconds left in the half.
• Lander opened the second half with a 22-9 run and took its first double-digit lead on a pair of free throws by Fredimon with 11:08 remaining, which gave the Bearcats a 58-48 advantage.
• Montevallo came back with a 19-8 run and took its final lead on a layup by senior Bryant Orange with 1:58 left in the game, which gave the Falcons a 68-67 lead.
• Scott Elder gave Lander the lead for good with 1:31 and made 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch to secure the win for the Bearcats.
• Senior Terrell Lipkins' shot at the buzzer from eight feet out rolled around the rim and out as time expired.

STATS OF THE GAME

Lander shot 85 percent (17-of-20) from the free-throw line in the victory over the Falcons.

Montevallo outscored the Bearcats 36-20 in the paint in the semifinal contest.

The Falcons' bench outscored Lander 29-11 in the game, with senior Malik Fields and sophomore Vaughn Autry contributing 12 points each off the bench.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Montevallo fell to Lander for the first time in the series between the two teams since the Falcons joined the Peach Belt Conference prior to the 2009-10 season. The Falcons are now 7-1 all-time against the Bearcats.

UP NEXT

The Falcons will await the NCAA Division II selection show Sunday night to find out their fate in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. Montevallo is looking for its 11th bid in 13 seasons since head coach Danny Young arrived at the University prior to the 2003-04 season.