MONTEVALLO, Ala.  – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team dropped an overtime thriller, 73-70 to Christian Brothers in Trustmark Arena, Thursday.
 
The contest featured 20 lead changes and 12 ties as the visitors led for nearly 20 minutes in the contest while the Falcons led for just under 15 minutes.
 
With 7:59 to go, CBU held its largest lead of the game, 58-52. A James McNeil driving layup cut the Bucs lead to four and ignited a 6-0 run, by himself. McNeil capped the run and tied the game, 58-58, at the 5:27 mark. McNeil's 10^th straight point evened the game up again, 60-60, with 3:37 to go. A hook shot in the paint from Aidan Gardiner gave UM a two-point advantage, 62-60, at the 1:54 mark. CBU evened the score 62-62 from the free-throw line and each side was held scoreless in the final 1:13 of play, forcing overtime.
 
In overtime, Montevallo held a brief two-point lead following an early bucket from Tyler More. At the 2:55 mark in OT, CBU took a one-point lead 67-66 on a fast break jumper before Gardiner handed the lead back to UM, 70-69, from the charity stripe. In the final 1:34, a two-point basket and a pair of free-throws from CBU put the visitors ahead 73-70 as the Falcons missed a three-pointer and committed two turnovers in the final minute.
 
Both sides matched each other's outputs in the first half, 32-32, and in the second, 30-30, but the visitors held an 11-8 scoring advantage in overtime.
James McNeil led Montevallo with a game-high 26 points for his third 20-plus point game of the year.

Game Information

Score: Montevallo 70, Christian Brothers 73
Records: Montevallo (9-15, 7-13 GSC), Christian Brothers (5-14, 5-17 GSC)
Location: Montevallo, Alabama | Trustmark Arena
 
 

GAME NOTES
 

• The Falcons are now 0-2 in overtime contests this season.
• There were 20 lead changes and 12 ties in the game. Montevallo led for 14:44 and by as many as four while CBU led for 19:59 and by as many as six.
• Both sides matched each other's outputs in the first half, 32-32, and in the second, 30-30, but the visitors held an 11-8 scoring advantage in overtime.
• James McNeil led Montevallo 26 points – his third 20-plus point game of the year – and scored 10-straight points in the final 8:54 to help the Falcons crawl out of a six-point deficit in the second half.  
• Mason Shifflett finished as the only other Falcon in double-figures with 15 points.
• Both sides finished even in rebounds, 42-42. Aidan Gardiner led UM with eight boards. CBU held a 14-10 advantage on the offensive boards and narrowly edged the Falcons in second-chance points, 12-10.
• Turnovers plagued the Falcons as CBU won the turnover battle, 14-10, and scored 14 points-from-turnovers.

Up Next: Montevallo will close out the season and celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 4 p.m. against Union.