Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Montevallo men's basketball dropped a hard-fought battle with Valdosta State, 76-73, Thursday, in Central State Bank Arena.
 
In a game that featured 11 lead changes and six ties, the Falcons led for nearly 23 minutes in the game but fell short in the final minutes.
 
The Falcons jumped out to a hot start and opened the game 5-of-10 from the floor to lead 11-0 less than four minutes in. With 3:27 to go in the first half, VSU tied the Falcons, 30-30. Tyson Sexton pushed the Falcons in front briefly from the free-throw line, but two quick buckets pushed the Blazers ahead 34-31 for their first lead of the game. The Falcons trailed by two, 37-35 at the break.
 
Montevallo scored the opening bucket of the second half and used a 6-0 run to jump ahead 41-27 following a jumper from Brandon Fussell. After trading buckets, VSU evened the score 47-47 with 13:39 to play and took a two-point lead, 52-50 at the 12:27 mark. Down four, 57-53, Cam Glover and Brandon Fussell combined for four points to push the score back even at 57. Following a three-pointer from VSU's Caden Boser, a pair of Fussell free-throws, a Jack Henderson three, and a Fussell jumper the Falcons regained control, 64-60. As both sides continued to exchange small runs and the lead, Tyson Sexton set a new career-high in points and tied the game for the sixth time, 70-70 with a three-pointer at the 2:04 mark. VSU held off the Falcons offensive attack down the stretch to give UM its first home loss since Jan. 24.
 
The Freshman duo of Sexton and Fussell led the Falcons with 22 points each, marking a new career-high for Sexton.
 

Game Information
 
Score: Montevallo 73  | Valdosta State 76
Records: Montevallo 10-16 (9-13 GSC) | Valdosta State 11-14 (8-13 GC)
Location: Central State Bank Arena
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

1^st |  Montevallo trailed VSU 37-35 at the half despite shooting 37.1 percent from the floor. VSU turned in a 50 percent shooting clip in the first half. Montevallo opened the game 5-of-10 from the floor in the first four minutes but shot 8-of-24 over the remaining 16 minutes.
 
2^nd | VSU narrowly edged UM 39-38 in the second half. Montevallo shot 44.8 percent from the floor in the second half but VSU improved to 56.5 percent.

GAME NOTES

• Freshmen Tyson Sexton and Brandon Fussell led the Falcons with 20 points each.
• Sexton finished a career-best 5-of-8 from three-point range for a career-high 22 points.
• Free throws proved to be a difference maker in the end as VSU went 16-of-22 from the line while UM shot 10-fo-13.
• The Blazers shot 53.1 from the field and 40 percent from three while Montevallo went 40.6 from the field and 35.5 percent from the floor.
• Montevallo won the rebounding battle 35-32, turnover battle 21-18, and held a 15-9 advantage in second-chance points. The loss is the first of the year for UM when winning both the rebounding and turnover margins.

 
UP NEXT
Montevallo will return to Central State Bank Arena for a matchup against West Florida on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m.