MONTEVALLO, Ala.  – In a high-scoring affair the University of Montevallo basketball team defeated West Florida, 115-113, completing a 22-point comeback, Saturday in Trustmark Arena.
 
Following a James McNeil and-one bucket with 6.2 seconds a remaining to put the Falcons ahead 115-113, graduate Jaylon Tharpe sealed the come-from-behind win with a block at the buzzer.
 
With 3:02 to go in the first half the Falcons trailed by 22-points, 59-37, but outscored the Argonauts 78-54 the rest of the way, including a 65-50 advantage in the second half.
 
Montevallo's 115 points marks the most points scored in a game since scoring 135 against Valdosta State on the road in 2017 and is the seventh most points scored all-time in program history.
 
Braxton Bertolette led UM's effort with 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the floor while McNeil added a career-high 29 points and a career-high 12 boards to go along with four steals.
 
Mason Shifflett, Tyler Moore and Aidan Gardiner round out a group of five double-figure scorers with 16, 12 and 10 points, respectively. Moore led UM with a career-high seven assists.
 
With 10:07 to go in the game the Falcons trailed by 10, 88-78, before a McNeil and-one cut the deficit to seven, 88-81, at the 9:41 mark. Bertolette capped an 8-0 game-tying run at the 6:47 mark following back-to-back layups. After falling behind by five with 5:10 to play, 102-97, a Tharpe three-pointer cut the deficit to two before a Bertolette three put UM ahead 103-102 for the first time since the 17:09 mark in the first half. Down four with 52 second remaining, six points from McNeil on a three-pointer and an and-one opportunity put UM ahead, 115-113. Tharpe sealed the win on the defensive end with a block at the buzzer.
 
Game Information

Score: Montevallo 115  West Florida 113
Records: Montevallo (6-8, 4-6 GSC), West Florida (7-6, 3-6)
Location: Montevallo, Ala. | Trustmark Arena
 
 

GAME NOTES
 

• Montevallo scored 115 points, the most points since Dec. 16, 2017 at Valdosta State (135). It is the seventh most points scored all-time in program history and the second-most in the Division-II era.
   
• The Falcons attempted 90 field goals in the game, marking the fifth-most all-time and shot 50 percent from the field (45-of-90).
• UM finished 40 percent from three-point range (16-of-40) and attempted the third most three-pointers in a single game in program history.
• James McNeil recorded his first career double-double and led UM in rebounds while recording a career-high 29 points and a career-high 12 boards to go along with a team-leading four steals.
• Braxton Bertolette led the Falcons with 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 shooting from deep. The graduate student finished 3-of-3 from the charity stripe to remain perfect on the year.
• Tyler Moore led UM with seven assists to go along with 12 points.
• Mason Shifflett scored 16 points and grabbed eight boards.
• Aidan Gardiner added 10 points and six rebounds.
• Montevallo totaled a season-high 22 offensive rebounds and outscored West Florida 28-4 in second-chance points.
• Montevallo attempted 30 more field-goals than West Florida.

Up Next: Montevallo continues a three-game homestand with a matchup against Valdosta State at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, in Trustmark Arena