PENSACOLA, Fla. - Montevallo's men's basketball team traveled down to the University of West Florida to battle the Argonauts on Friday, Feb 12. The Falcons had beaten UWF 80-77 at home back on Jan 26, but found the Argonauts much harder to stop on the road as several comeback attempts fell short with Montevallo ultimately taking their fifth loss of the season and their third in a row, 85-75.
 
West Florida took a 7-5 lead and didn't relinquish it from there on in. They used a 16-3 run from there to build a 23-8 lead on the strength of three triples from beyond the arc while getting to the free throw line.
 
Down 28-14, the Falcons made their run. UM hit four three pointers of their own including two from Braxton Bertolette. James McNeil also had two baskets including a three as Montevallo trimmed the deficit all the way down to three on Bertolette's third basket from downtown for a 36-33 halftime score.
 
Montevallo continued to keep pace with the Argos well into the second half. McNeil and Latrell Carter traded baskets for the Falcons who found more opportunity in the paint after the break. However, UM also went cold from outside and didn't regain their first half form the rest of the evening.
 
UWF built several double digit leads after halftime with the Falcons answering nearly every time, but the Argonauts never lost their touch from long distance. They would hit six in the first half and follow it up with seven more in the second to keep UM at a distance finishing an impressive 50% from beyond the arc.
 
James McNeil would lead the Falcons on the night with 21 points going 8-13 from the field. Ivan Smith came off the bench to give UM 17 while Bob Carroll scored 14 with four assists playing 38 of 40 possible minutes. All five starters for West Florida scored in double figures and scored every one of their 85 points.
 
UP NEXT: UM will finish their two game road tilt at UWF Saturday, Feb 13 at 3 p.m. EST