FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team pushed its current winning streak to five games with a 92-79 victory over visiting Armstrong Atlantic State University in a Peach Belt Conference contest Jan. 26 at BankTrust Arena.

The Falcons, who have won eight of their past nine games, continued their sharpshooting from beyond the arc after shooting 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from 3-point range in the win. Montevallo shot 54.8 percent from the floor.

Montevallo has knocked down 35-of-55 3-point attempts in its past three games, which has the Falcons on pace to set a new 3-point shooting percentage school record.  The Falcons (13-5 overall, 9-2 in Peach Belt Conference) are shooting better than 43 percent from beyond the arc this season, which ranks them among the top five teams in NCAA Division II in 3-point shooting percentage.

Sophomore Troran Brown led Montevallo with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, in the win over Armstrong Atlantic State. Brown, who knocked down 5-of-5 free throws, also dished out a game-high 11 assists.

Senior Drico Hightower added 18 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the floor. Hightower grabbed 10 rebounds as he posted his sixth double-double of the season. Fellow senior Marvin Fitzgerald, who finished 5-of-10 from the field, added 13 points and 10 rebounds as he posted his team-leading ninth double-double.

Senior Jonas Brown knocked down 4-of-6 3-point attempts as he contributed 13 points and four assists. Senior Danny Cummins contributed a season-high 12 points, one point shy of his career high, on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Ryan May chipped in nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.

The Falcons got off to another fast start, with a 3-pointer by Cummins at the 8:09 mark in the first half capping a 37-17 run to open the game.

Armstrong Atlantic State trimmed the Falcons’ lead to single digits, 39-30, following a pair of free throws by Aric Miller with 5:20 remaining in the first half. However, Montevallo pushed its lead to 49-35 heading into the locker room at halftime following a layup by Troran Brown with two seconds remaining in the first half.

Montevallo pushed its lead to 52-35 in the first minute of the second half following a 3-pointer by Jonas Brown. The Pirates didn’t go away, however, trimming the Falcons’ lead to 71-66 following a layup by J.C. Winn with 7:43 left in the contest.

After Montevallo pushed its lead back to double-digits, the Pirates again threatened following a four-point play by Miller with just more than two minutes remaining. However, May drained a 3-pointer from the wing with 49 seconds left in the game to seal the victory.

Miller, the leading scorer in the Peach Belt Conference this season, led the Pirates with 34 points.

The Falcons’ victory set up a showdown between the top two teams in the Peach Belt Conference on Thursday, Jan. 31. Montevallo, which is currently second overall in Peach Belt Conference standings, will travel to Young Harris, Ga. to take on conference leader Young Harris College. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m. CST.