MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 31, against Union before hosting Christian Brothers on Jan. 2.
 
Montevallo continues conference play this week following a 16-day break. In the last GSC clash, the Falcons topped No. 3/4 West Georgia 72-69 at home.

Before the holiday break, the Falcons defeated Huntingdon College in double-overtime, 99-94.

The Falcons re-enter conference play at 3-8 overall on the year and 2-5 in league action.


Game Information/Coverage

Matchup: Montevallo (3-8, 2-5 GSC) vs Union (5-5, 2-4 GSC)
When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, 4 p.m.
Where: Montevallo, AL | McChesney Student Activity Center

Watch: FloSports
Live Stats

GAME NOTES

• Montevallo enters the conference matchup on a two-game winning streak, the longest of the season. The Falcons are looking for a third-straight win for the first time since 2021-22.
• Sunday's game marks the third New Year's Eve game for the Falcons since the 2005-06 season. UM is 2-0 in the previous matchups with a 115-113 win over West Florida last season.
• The Falcons remain one of the fastest-paced teams in Division II with an average of 16.27 fastbreak points per game, which ranks 19^th nationally and first in the league.
• Montevallo's defense has forced a league second-best 17 turnovers per game which ranks 26^th in Division II.
• Jaylen Curry leads UM with 16.1 points per game and ranks 13^th in the GSC.
   

So Far This Season…
 
Montevallo (3-8, 2-5 GSC) snapped a three-game losing skid to notch the second win of the season against No.3/4 West Georgia in thrilling fashion. A late three-pointer from UM's Justin Graham proved to be the difference as UM earned its second-highest-ranked win in program history, 72-69. The highest-ranked win came in 2010 when the Falcons took down No. 1 Augusta, 81-77. Since the historic win, UM defeated Huntingdon in double overtime, 99-94 for its second consecutive win of the year.


 
Defense has been a struggle for the Falcons this season, but the unit had its best outing against West Georgia. Montevallo held the Wolves to their lowest point total of the year, 69, which is also the fewest allowed by the Falcons this season. Although the Falcons are giving up 95 points per game, the squad is forcing 17 turnovers per contest, the second most in the GSC and 26^th most nationally.

UM's offense has been inconsistent this season but remains one of the best in the Gulf South Conference at 83.5 points per game – second in the league.
 
Montevallo continues to be one of the better three-point shooting teams across the Gulf South with 10.2 made threes per game.
 

UM's fast-paced style of play has not only led to forced turnovers but to fastbreak points as well. The Falcons are averaging 16.27 fastbreak points per game, ranking first in the GSC and 19^th in Division II.
 

Scouting Union:
 
Union enters the matchup 5-5 overall on the year and with a 2-4 mark in conference play. After opening conference play 0-4 on the year, Union is on a two-game win streak with wins over West Florida, 86-84, and Valdosta State, 84-76.
 
The Bulldogs' offense ranks 10^th in the GSC at 74.6 points per game while the defense is giving up 73.1 points per game, ranking ninth.
 
Series History Against Union:
 
Montevallo is 1-6 against Union all-time. The Falcons defeated Union on Jan. 20, 2018, 66-63 but are on a six-game losing streak since.

 
Player Highlights Montevallo:
 
11 games into the year, Jaylen Curry has established himself as Montevallo's leading scorer with 16.1 points per game. The sophomore forward who joined the Falcons from Wallace State Community College this season, has scored in double-figures eight times this season, including a career-high 32 against Lee. Curry's 32-point outing is the most points a Falcon has scored this season.

Curry is one of three Falcons averaging in double-figures this season, ahead of fellow transfers Cam Glover (14.9 ppg) and Jack Henderson (12.4 ppg). Junior Justin Graham, who tallied a career-high 31 against Clark-Atlanta and led UM with 21 in the win over West Georgia, is just behind the trio at 9.8 points per game.

Additionally, Graham leads Montevallo on the boards at 5.0 per game.

Glover, a junior transfer from Birmingham-Southern, is UM's leading sharpshooter with 2.5 three-pointers made per game. The Trussville, Alabama native has scored in double-figures a team-high nine times this year, including a season-high 28 against Shorter and added 22 in the win over Huntingdon.

Glover also leads UM with 3.2 assists per game.
 
Player Highlights Union:
 
Union is led by Ahmad Johnson who is scoring 16 points per game this season. Johnson is one of four players scoring in double-figures for Union.
 
Freshman Jordan Pyke, a two-time GSC Freshman of the Week is scoring 12.4 points per game for the Bulldogs.
 
Game Information/Coverage

Matchup: Montevallo (3-8, 2-5 GSC) vs Christian Brothers (6-3, 4-2 GSC)
When: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Montevallo, AL | McChesney Student Activity Center

Watch: FloSports
Live Stats


Scouting Christian Brothers:
 
Christian Brothers enters the conference clash on a four-game winning streak.  
 
CBU currently sits in fourth in the GSC standings and has one of the leagues top offenses at 83.7 points per game. The Bucs also lead the league in three-point percentage with a 41.2 percent clip from deep on the year.
 
On the boards, CBU leads the GSC at 40.8 rebounds per game and has a league-best 9.7 rebounding margin.

Series History Against CBU:
 
Montevallo is 5-4 against the Bucs since 2018. CBU snapped Montevallo's four-game win streak in the series in 2022 and has won three in a row since.  


Player Highlights CBU:
 
Union is led by Anias Futrell with 19.8 points per game. Futrell also leads the league with a 45.2 three-point shooting percentage.
 
CBU features four players in double-figures per game.