ROME, Ga. - Junior guard Braxton Bertolette scored a game-high 25 points as the Falcons rolled past Shorter University 71-62 on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons improved to 10-13 and 8-7 in the Gulf South Conference, while Shorter fell to 4-14 and 1-12 in the GSC.

Bertolette knocked down 8-of-14 fieldgoals in the game, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-9 freethrows. He also had eight rebounds and six steals.

Mason Shifflett also scored in double-figures, finishing with 16 points and five rebounds, while James McNeil contributed 14 points.

Grant Atchley paced the Hawks with 19 points and seven rebounds and Rickey Knight, Jr. dropped in 10 points.

The Falcons came out firing, rolling out to a 19-5 lead in the first nine minutes of the game and dominated the rest of the half, taking a 40-25 lead into the lockerroom at halftime. 

In the second half, the Falcons continued to dominate, leading by as much as 20 points at 51-31 after Bertolette buried a 3-pointer with 15:46 left. 

The Hawks rallied to cut the lead to 67-59 with a little over two minutes left, but the Falcons held on down the stretch to grab the much-needed win.

The Falcons return to the home floor for a pair of games at the SAC on Thursday against West Florida, then Valdosta State on Saturday afternoon. Thursday's game is Pack the SAC night, while Saturday will be Senior Night.