Box Score TROY, Ala. – The University of Montevallo men's basketball squad fell to Troy University, 87-67 in an exhibition at Trojan Arena in Troy, Ala., Monday.
 
Montevallo battled with the Trojans in the first half, leading for over seven minutes, but a 17-4 run to open the second half was enough to carry Troy over the UM in the end.
 
The Falcons trailed 34-31 at halftime after a first half that featured five ties and 21 lead changes as UM led for 7:24. Mid-way through, a floater from MJ Jones and a layup from Braxton Bertolette put UM ahead 16-14, marking the largest run of the first half. Following several more lead changes, a layup from James McNeil at the 1:04 mark continued a hot-shooting first half for the Falcons to put the squad back on top, 31-30. Troy closed the half on a 4-0 run to lead UM, 34-31. Montevallo outshot the Trojans 44.8 to 36.4 percent from the floor in the first half.
 
A layup from McNeil at the 14:45 mark in the second half capped a 12-5 run for the Falcons to cut the deficit to 12, 51-39 after Troy took a 21-point lead. An ensuing 9-0 run for Troy extended the lead back to 21, 62-41 with 11:57 to play. The Trojans led by as many 25 with 3:11 remaining, 79-54 and went on to win, 87-67.

 
Game Information

Score: Montevallo 67, Troy 87
Records: Montevallo (0-0) Troy (1-0)
Location: Trojan Arena | Troy, Ala.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

1^st        | Montevallo battled with the Trojans in a first half that featured 21 lead changes and five ties, but trailed 34-31 at the break. 10 first-half turnovers hindered a UM team that shot 44.8 percent from the field. Bertolette led Montevallo with nine first-half points.
2^nd       | Troy opened the second half on a 17-4 run to lead 51-35 and led by as many as 25 in the second half. Troy shot 54 percent from the floor and 36 percent from three in the second half while Montevallo was just 22 percent from downtown.
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Braxton Bertolette led the Falcons with 15 points in the contest while Te Smith added 13.
• Troy outrebounded the Falcons 41-30 as Bertolette's eight boards led UM.
• Troy outscored Montevallo 11-4 in second chance buckets after winning the offensive rebounding battle, 14-4.
• The Trojans edged Montevallo from three-point range, 11-6 and the free-throw line, resulting in a 26-point differential.
• James McNeil led the Falcons with six assists while adding nine points.
• In his Montevallo debut, MJ Jones scored nine points on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor.
• There were 21 lead changes and five ties in the contest.

Up Next: The Falcons will open the 2022-23 regular season at the Bill Penney Classic in Huntsville, Ala. against Tampa on Friday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.
 
Stay up to date with Montevallo men's basketball online at montevallofalcons.com and on social media @montevallombb