MONTEVALLO, Ala.  – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team earned its third home win of the year, 76-70, over Point University, Sunday in Trustmark Arena.
 
Eight points over the final 3:31 for Mason Shifflett and a late layup from Braxton Bertolette proved to be a catalyst in the win over the NAIA opponent.
 
In a tale-of-two-halves, Montevallo outscored Point 34-21 in the first 20 minutes on a 40.5 percent mark from the field. Point overcame a 31.8 percent shooting clip in the first half to outscore the Falcons 49-42 in the second half on 51.5 percent shooting from the field.
 
Point worked out of a 13-point halftime deficit to tie the Falcons multiple times in the second half. After the Skyhawks evened the contest 62-62 with 3:31 to go, a three-pointer from Shifflett ignited an 18-8 closing run and put UM in front 65-62. A second-chance bucket from Austin Laatsch kept Point at bay, 67-64. The Skyhawks took its only lead of the second half on a free-throw with 1:27 to go. Bertolette took the lead back for UM with a layup at the 1:15 mark. Free-throw shooting and a Shifflett layup helped keep the Falcons ahead the rest of the way, winning 76-70.
  
Game Information

Score: Montevallo 76, Point University 70
Records: Montevallo (5-6, 3-4 GSC), Point (Exh.) (7-6, 7-4 AAC)
Location: Montevallo, Ala. | Trustmark Arena 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

1^st        | Montevallo fell behind 5-0 to start the contest but worked out of the whole to lead by 13, the largest of the game, at the break, 34-21. A 10-0 scoring run propelled the Falcons in front, 10-5, and was the largest run of the game for UM.
2^nd       | A 16-4 run through the first 6:15 for Point, cut Montevallo's lead to three, 40-37. Point tied the Falcons four times in the second half and took a lead 68-67 with 1:27 to go. A Bertolette layup put the Falcons back on top, 69-68 – a lead they would hold the rest of the way.

GAME NOTES
 

• Braxton Bertolette led the Falcons and a group of four double-digit scorers with 16 points and finished 4-of-4 from the charity stripe to remain perfect on the year.
• Mason Shifflett backed up Bertolette with 14 points of his own, including eight in the final 3:31, and registered a team-high eight boards.
• Austin Laatsch added 13 points off the bench as he finished 3-of-6 from deep.
• The fourth double-digit scorer was Aidan Gardiner who added 11 points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds and a career-high five assists.
• James McNeil led the Falcons in assists with six while scoring nine points and collecting three steals.
• Montevallo totaled 15 assists on 29 made buckets, marking the second-most this season.
• Turnovers proved to be the thorn-in-the-side for Point as the Skyhawks totaled 18 turnovers that resulted in 21 UM points. Montevallo turned the ball over six times for just two points.
• Despite a disadvantage on the boards, 43-37, Montevallo outscored Point 15-11 in second-chance points.
• Point edged UM from the field, 43.6 percent to 39.7 percent.

Up Next: UM will return to Gulf South Conference play with a trip to Jackson, Tenn. to face Union, Friday Dec. 16.