FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team led most of the game before a late spurt by Clayton State University downed the Falcons 57-52 on the road in a Peach Belt Conferene game Feb. 19.

The Falcons (15-9 overall, 8-7 in Peach Belt Conference) were led by junior DeMarcus Catchings, who scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards. Sophomore Jonas Brown chipped in 12 points and five boards.

Senior Ronald Severtsgaard led the Falcons on the glass with 10 boards.

Montevallo shot 34.5 percent from the field, including just 30 percent in the first half. The Lakers were not much better at 37.3 percent for the game and just 27.3 percent in the first half.

In one of the lowest scoring halves of the season, the Falcons led 22-16 at halftime against Clayton State.

A 10-3 run to open the second half gave the Falcons a 32-19 lead with just under 17 minutes to play. A few minutes later, the Lakers used a 13-5 run to cut the Falcons lead to just five points with 10:14 left in the game.

Clayton State eventually whittled the lead away and a three-point play by Timmy Downs tied the game at 46-46 with just over three minutes left in the contest. Just a few seconds later, a 3-pointer gave the Lakers their first lead of the second half before Montevallo responded with a 3-pointer from Brown to retake a two-point advantage.

A 6-0 run by the Lakers gave them a 55-51 lead with just 24 seconds to play and the Falcons were unable to get any offense going in the final seconds.