Falcons’ Explosive Second Half Downs Braves, 75-57
MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The 24th-ranked University of Montevallo men's basketball team (16-2, 6-2 PBC) used a 51-point second half to down the visiting Braves from UNC Pembroke (6-13, 2-8 PBC) 75-57. The Falcons trailed 27-24 at halftime but outscored the Braves 51-30 in the second half to capture the victory. The big men for Montevallo dominated the paint as Gerald January (Macon, Ga./Westside) and Cecil Coleman (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech) combined for 39 of the Falcons 75 points. January had 20 points and nine boards while Coleman had 19 points and eight boards.
January was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Coleman was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Senior Tauras Dortch (Ensley, Ala./Ramsay) had 11 points and six boards while MarkPlaza (San Diego, Calif./Chula Vista) had 10 points, eight boards, five assists and four steals. Freddy Little (Raleigh, N.C./Bunn) and Ryan Westbrooks (Nashville, Tenn./Hillsboro) each chipped in seven points.
UM forced 24 UNCP turnovers including 15 in the second half which led to 29 points for the Falcons.
UM opened the game with two quick layups from Coleman to take a 4-0 lead. The Braves then went on a 11-2 run to open up a 11-6 lead which they held for the rest of the first half. UM was able to cut the lead to just one point on three different occasions but was unable to tie or take the lead the rest of the first half.
Down 27-24 at halftime the Falcons came out in the second half with a 10-4 run to capture the lead. UNCP quickly recovered and retook the lead just two minutes later. The two teams exchanged the lead back-and-forth for the middle part of the second half with UM controlling most of the time. With 6:28 remaining in the game and the Falcons up 55-53, UM used a 20-4 run to close out the half and take a 75-57 victory at home.
The No. 24 Falcons will return to action Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m. as they host Francis Marion University. The Patriots are 15-3 overall and 7-2 in PBC play.
 |  |
