FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team is set to face off against No. 3 seed and No. 18 ranked Florida Southern, Saturday, Mar. 15 at 11 a.m. central time, in the first round of the NCAA South Regional tournament, at Rick Case Arena on the campus of Nova Southeastern University.
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So Far This Season…
Montevallo earned the No. 6 seed in the south region of the NCAA tournament after compiling a 20-10 record on the year and advancing to the Gulf South Conference semifinals. UM's 19 wins during the regular season and 20 total wins so far are the most since 2014-15 when the Falcons totaled 22 wins and finished with a trip to the Sweet 16 at 26-10. The 2024-25 campaign has been full of historic moments, including the above-mentioned records, the Falcons also won 15 games in GSC action for the most in program history. The Falcons made the GSC tournament as the No. 3 seed for the first time since 2021-22 and earned its first GSC tourney win since 2007, knocking off West Alabama in the quarterfinal. In addition, Montevallo's selection to the NCAA tournament this season ended an eight-year drought, sending the Falcons to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2015-16.
All-GSC Second Team selections
Brandon Fussell and
Jaylen Curry have guided the Falcons all season long. Fussell leads UM with 18 points, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game while Curry has added 16.8 points per game and a team leading 67 three-pointers. Starters
Derek Moore and
Camden Andrews join Curry and Fussell with double-digit points per game, scoring 14.8 and 10.0 per game, respectively. Moore leads UM on the boards with 6.3 per game.
Montevallo's balanced approach has led to its success this year. UM ranks fifth in the GSC in both scoring offense, 79.7 points per game, and scoring defense, 76.2 points per game.
Getting to the free-throw line has been a positive for UM this season. The Falcons 614 free-throws this year, the second-most in the GSC.
The Falcons have played a loaded schedule in 2024-25 that featured six ranked teams - all of which are currently ranked in the top 15.
Scouting Florida Southern
Florida Southern compiled a 25-8 record on the year and finished second in the Sunshine State Conference. The Mocs advanced to the SSC Championship game but fell short to NCAA South Regional host Nova Southeastern.
Florida Southern's offense ranks second in the SSC with 93 points per game, but the Moc's defense has given up the second-most point per game in the league at 84.9 per contest.
Despite the struggles defensively, Florida Southern leads the nation with 7.0 blocks per game. Alex Steen contributes 2.5 blocks per game, ranking first in the SSC and sixth across Division II. Fellow big Payton Gerald is right behind, though, with 2.0 per game, ranking second and 13
th, respectively.
Jadin Booth leads Florida Southern offensively with 21.3 points per game. Booth was a First Team All-SSC selection and First Team D2CCA All-Region honoree.
Series History vs. Florida Southern
This is the first meeting between UM and Florida Southern.
Montevallo in the NCAA Tournament
Historically, the Falcons are 22-11 in the NCAA Division II Tournament. This year's trip marks the 12
th appearance for UM, who advanced to the NCAA tournament 11 times between 2003 and 2016.
Montevallo has advanced to the sweet sixteen eight times, elite eight three times, final four once and national championship final once.
