FROM STAFF REPORTS

AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of Montevallo senior Drico Hightower and sophomore Troran Brown were each selected first team All-Peach Belt Conference following the release of the men’s basketball All-Conference teams March 5 by the conference office.

The pair became the fourth and fifth Montevallo men’s basketball players, respectively, to receive postseason recognition since Montevallo joined the conference prior to the 2009-2010 season. Brown and Hightower join former Montevallo standout D.J. Rivera as first team All-Peach Belt Conference selections.

Freddy Little was named third team All-Peach Belt Conference following the Falcons’ first season in the conference back in 2009-2010. Antoine Davis was named third team All-Peach Belt Conference following the 2010-2011 season, while Rivera was selected first team All-Conference last season.

Brown and Hightower enter the upcoming Peach Belt Conference tournament among the conference leaders in several categories.

Brown is currently fourth in the conference in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game. The 6-foot-2 guard from Phoenix, Ariz. is fifth in the conference in assists with an average of six assists per game, which also ranks him No. 10 nationally in NCAA Division II.

Brown was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week once during the regular season.

Hightower is currently third in the conference in field-goal percentage with his 62 percent shooting from the floor this season, which also ranks him No. 14 nationally in NCAA Division II. The 6-foot-7 forward from Augusta, Ga. is eighth in the conference in scoring with an average of 17 points per game. Hightower is ninth in the conference in rebounding with an average of 7.4 rebounds per game.

Hightower was also named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week once during the regular season.

The Falcons return to action Friday, March 8 in the quarterfinal round of the Peach Belt Conference tournament. Montevallo, the West Division champion, will face Augusta State University, the No. 4 seed in the East Division, in the opening round of the tournament.

Tip off is set for 6 p.m. CST at the Frank G. Lumpkin Center on the Columbus State University campus in Columbus, Ga.

Peach Belt Conference Men’s Basketball
2012-13 All-Conference Team

First Team
George Blakeney, UNC Pembroke
Troran Brown, Montevallo
Drico Hightower, Montevallo
Aric Miller, Armstrong
Re’Mon Nelson, USC Aiken

Second Team
Shahmel Brackett, UNC Pembroke
Ante Gospic, Flagler
Ishmael Hollis, North Georgia
Malcolm Jackson, Young Harris
Paul Larsen, USC Aiken

Third Team
Frank Adams, Young Harris
Scott Ferguson, Georgia College
Evrik Gary, Francis Marion
Vince Martin, Young Harris
Ryan Weems, Augusta State
Ronald Zimmerman, USC Aiken

Player of the Year
Re’Mon Nelson, USC Aiken

Freshman of the Year
Quamain Rose, UNC Pembroke

Defensive Player of the Year
Juron Dobbs, Clayton State

Coaches of the Year
Ben Miller, UNC Pembroke
Vince Alexander, USC Aiken