FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team opened the new year with a 78-64 win over visiting Flagler College in a Peach Belt Conference contest Jan. 3 at BankTrust Arena.

The Falcons, who shot 51 percent from the floor in the victory, improved to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play with the victory. Montevallo jumped out to a 20-point halftime lead and held on down the stretch to clinch the victory.

Sophomore Troran Brown posted his third double-double of the season as he finished with 20 points and 11 assists. Brown finished 8-of-14 from the floor in the win.

Senior Marvin Fitzgerald added 17 points, on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor, and a game-high 14 rebounds as he posted his team-leading eighth double-double this season.

Senior Drico Hightower contributed 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds. Senior Jonas Brown chipped in 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc to go along with five rebounds and three assists.

Sophomore Ryan May finished with seven points, while junior Silas Mills chipped in six points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Senior Travis DeShazior added two points, two rebounds and three assists off the bench.

Montevallo raced out to a 29-9 lead following a jumper by Fitzgerald with 9:30 remaining in the first half. A jumper by DeShazior gave the Falcons their largest lead in the first half, 35-14, with 4:15 left to play in the half.

May drained a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the half to send Montevallo into the locker room at halftime with a 43-23 lead.

The Falcons once again stretched their lead to 21 points in the second half, the last time on a 3-pointer by Jonas Brown, which gave Montevallo a 54-33 lead with 14:53 remaining in the game. The Saints cut the deficit to eight points down the stretch, but Fitzgerald scored seven points in the final two minutes to help the Falcons hold off Flagler late in the game.

Montevallo returns to action Saturday, Jan. 5 with a Peach Belt Conference game on the road at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. Tip off is set for 2:30 p.m. CST.