GAME INFORMATION

Event: Rams Rising Tournament
Score: Montevallo 73, Columbus State 62
Records: Montevallo (2-3) |  Columbus State (0-1)
Location: Albany, Georgia
Montevallo Starters: Jamar Gilbert (G), Chris Williams (G), Jamaar Taylor (G), Julio Guity (F), A.J. Luke (F)
Columbus State Starters: JaCori Payne (G), Darius Joell (G), Rudy Winters (G), Cam Paulding (F), Marcus Dixon (F)

GAME NOTES

• The Falcons overcame a two-point halftime deficit after shooting 62.1 percent (18-of-29) from the floor in the second half.
• Montevallo also outrebounded Columbus State 34-29 in the Cougars' season opener, marking the fourth time in five games the Falcons have outrebounded their opponent.
• Senior Jamaar Taylor scored a team-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe.
• Senior Julio Guity added 14 points after shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and sharing the team lead with seven rebounds.
• Junior Jeremiah Curtis contributed 10 points and also grabbed seven boards.
• Junior Chris Williams finished with eight points, five rebounds and a team-high seven assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Columbus State opened the contest with a 7-0 run, capped with a layup by Cam Paulding, but the Falcons quickly erased the deficit with a 13-5 run of its own and took a 13-12 lead following a layup by senior Julio Guity with 11:33 remaining in the first half.
• The Falcons stretched their lead in the opening half to as many as three points following a pair of free throws by junior Chris Williams with 9:34 left in the half, which gave Montevallo a 15-12 advantage.
• Columbus State claimed the lead again following a jumper by JaCori Payne with 5:07 remaining in the half and the Cougars stretched their lead to as many as five points late in the half before taking a 31-29 lead into the locker room at the break.
• The Cougars again stretched their lead to five points early in the second half before Montevallo took the lead for good with a 11-5 run, capped with a 3-pointer by senior Jamaar Taylor, which gave Montevallo a 48-46 lead with 11:00 remaining in the contest.
• Montevallo led by as many as 12 points down the stretch following a jumper by junior Jeremiah Curtis, which gave the Falcons a 60-48 lead with 6:01 left in the second half.

TEAM LEADERS

Montevallo

Points: Jamaar Taylor (21)
Rebounds: Julio Guity/Jeremiah Curtis (7)
Assists: Chris Williams (7)

Columbus State

Points: JaCori Payne (25)
Rebounds: Marcus Dixon (9)
Assists: JaCori Payne (3)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Ties: 2
Lead Changes: 11
Largest Lead: Montevallo (2nd-6:01) | Columbus State by 7 (1st-17:35)

UP NEXT

Montevallo will face Catawba College in its final game of the Rams Rising Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Albany, Georgia. Tip off is set for 12 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Central.

RECAP

Albany, Ga. – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team defeated former Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State University 73-62 in the opening game of the Rams Rising Tournament on Nov. 17 hosted by Albany State University.

The Falcons (2-3) overcame a two-point halftime deficit after shooting 62.1 percent (18-of-29) from the floor in the second half.

Montevallo also outrebounded Columbus State 34-29 in the Cougars' season opener, marking the fourth time in five games the Falcons have outrebounded their opponent.

Senior Jamaar Taylor scored a team-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe.

Senior Julio Guity added 14 points after shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and sharing the team lead with seven rebounds.

Junior Jeremiah Curtis contributed 10 points and also grabbed seven boards.

Junior Chris Williams finished with eight points, five rebounds and a team-high seven assists.

Columbus State opened the contest with a 7-0 run, capped with a layup by Cam Paulding, but the Falcons quickly erased the deficit with a 13-5 run of its own and took a 13-12 lead following a layup by senior Julio Guity with 11:33 remaining in the first half.

The Falcons stretched their lead in the opening half to as many as three points following a pair of free throws by junior Chris Williams with 9:34 left in the half, which gave Montevallo a 15-12 advantage.

Columbus State claimed the lead again following a jumper by JaCori Payne with 5:07 remaining in the half and the Cougars stretched their lead to as many as five points late in the half before taking a 31-29 lead into the locker room at the break.

The Cougars again stretched their lead to five points early in the second half before Montevallo took the lead for good with a 11-5 run, capped with a 3-pointer by senior Jamaar Taylor, which gave Montevallo a 48-46 lead with 11:00 remaining in the contest.

Montevallo led by as many as 12 points down the stretch following a jumper by junior Jeremiah Curtis, which gave the Falcons a 60-48 lead with 6:01 left in the second half.