Falcons Survive Battle of the Unbeatens, 63-56

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo men's basketball team (6-0) improved its record to 6-0 with a hard-fought victory over previously undefeated Eckerd College (4-1), 63-56. The Falcons were led by junior Cecil Coleman (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech) in the post and redshirt freshman Jonas Brown (Tifton, Ga./Tift County) on the perimeter. Both Falcons contributed a team-high 13 points to the win. Brown had a breakout game as he scored a career-high off 5-of-6 shooting. He was 3-of-4 from three point range and came up with a huge steal to seal the victory late in the game.

Senior Freddy Little (Raleigh, N.C./Bunn) chipped in 11 points while junior Tauras Dortch (Ensley, Ala./Ramsay) had eight points and a team-high three assists. Junior Alex Lovell (Gardendale, Ala./Gardendale) led the team with eight rebounds all of which he picked up in the first half.

The Falcons forced 23 turnovers which led to a 28-11 advantage in points off turnovers which proved to be the deciding factor in the game.

UM fell behind early in the game as Eckerd opened up on a 9-2 run. The Falcons responded with an 11-2 run of their own to take a 13-11 lead with 12:21 left in the first half which was capped off by the first of three Brown three pointers. UM held the slim lead for the next six minutes until the Tritons were able to recapture the advantage with 5:08 left in the half. The lead then was tossed back-and-forth for the final five minutes and the half ended with both teams tied at 25.

The Tritons began the second half much like the first with a 13-2 run which opened up an 11 point lead. They held that lead for much of the second half. Down 50-44 with 6:42 left in the game the Falcons went on a 11-0 run which gave them a 55-50 lead with just 2:22 left in the game.

Eckerd was able to cut the lead to 57-56 with a layup and foul but a pair of free throws by Gerald January (Macon, Ga./Westside) increased the Falcons lead to three with 24 second left on the clock. The Tritons had the ball with less than 20 seconds left and were looking to cut the Falcons lead with a two or three but a stingy Falcon defense forced the ball to the floor where a diving Brown grabbed it and called a timeout with 15 second left in the game. Four Freddy Little free throws later that Falcons came out victorious 63-56.

The Falcons will return to action Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. as they host the second day of the UM Coca-Cola Classic. The Falcons will take on Shaw University in the final game of the tournament.