Former Pelham player has career night against Montevallo

Published 10:08 am Friday, January 24, 2020

FROM STAFF REPORTS 

MONTEVALLO – Ironically in one of the sharpest shooting performances of the season, the University of West Alabama men’s basketball team put up a relentless effort in an 84-55 win over the Montevallo Falcons Thursday night in Gulf South Conference action in Trustmark Arena.

The moved UWA to 14-4 overall and 7-3 in the GSC and marked Head coach Allen Sharpe‘s 100th victory as the Tigers’ coach. Montevallo falls to 11-8 on the season and 7-3 in the league with a third consecutive conference loss.

“I don’t realize the guys were chanting that’s 100,” said Sharpe. “I was thinking to myself we didn’t get near 100 points.”

The Tigers shot 60.8 percent (31-of-51) from the floor, 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from three and 100 percent (7-of-7) from the free throw line. All percentages and the 15 made three-pointers set season highs.

“Can we play again tomorrow? It’s funny how making shots makes everything seem to go better,” said Sharpe. “It was a collection of guys. We talk about this a lot at practice. Making shots is contagious and vice versa missing shots is contagious. You see that ball go in a couple of times, you feel good about it and the next guy feels good about it.”

Justin Allison scored 20 points with three rebounds, an assist, steal and block for a career night in a Tiger uniform with a 5-for-6 effort from beyond the arc. Darron Johnson also scored 20 points (6-for-7 from three) and had an assist.

Ricky Dunnaway finished with 12 points and a team leading eight rebounds while Mike Davis added 10 points, tied for the team lead with five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Usual points leader LaJuan Hardy scored seven points, but added five assists, team leading four steals and four rebounds.

“That’s a good indication that we’re probably on the right track as a team,” said Sharpe. “You can really accomplish a lot when no one gets the credit. If he (Hardy) was really selfish, he’d have a running tally of how many points he had and start forcing shots. The opportunity presented itself to be a facilitator for others tonight.”

UWA outscored Montevallo 28-16 in points off turnovers, 27-4 in bench points, 26-18 in the paint and 6-2 in the fast break. The Falcons won the battle on the boards 29-25 and edged UWA in second chance points 7-2.

The defense was just as stout as the offense for UWA and held Montevallo to 36.5 percent (19-of-52) shooting and 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from beyond the arc. UM ended up 80 percent (12-of-15) from the free throw line.

Jonas Parker proved to be a matchup issue for UWA however as he led the Falcons with 26 points. Cedric Jackson scored 11 points to round out double digit scorers.