FROM STAFF REPORTS

AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of Montevallo senior Drico Hightower has been selected to the Peach Belt Conference preseason men’s basketball All-Conference team, which was announced Oct. 30.

Five players from five different schools were named to the preseason All-Conference team, which was selected by the league’s head coaches.

Hightower, one of three returning starters, played a key role in the Falcons’ run to the NCAA Division II National Championship game last season.

Montevallo became only the third Peach Belt Conference team ever to reach the national final thanks in large part to Hightower, who commanded the middle of the floor with an 11.6 points per game average during the Falcons’ postseason run.  For the season, the 6-foot-7 forward from Augusta, Ga. was third on the team in scoring with 8.2 points per game and third in rebounding with an average of 5.5 boards per contest.

Hightower was second on the team and 10th in the Peach Belt Conference in field-goal percentage after shooting 51 percent from the floor a year ago. Hightower was also 10^th in the conference last season with 28 blocks.

Following an exhibition game tonight at Purdue University and an exhibition game Nov. 5 at Ole Miss, Hightower and the Falcons open the regular season Nov. 13 with a home contest against Stillman College at BankTrust Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Peach Belt Conference Men’s Basketball

2012-2013 Preseason All-Conference Team

Devon Wright-Nelson, Augusta State

Shahmel Brackett, UNC Pembroke

Re’Mon Nelson, USC Aiken

Drico Hightower, Montevallo

Corey Wright, Lander