FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team set a NCAA program record by shooting 68.4 percent from beyond the arc in a 84-61 win over visiting UNC Pembroke in a Peach Belt Conference affair Jan. 21 at BankTrust Arena.

The Falcons, who entered the game as one of the top-shooting teams in the country in NCAA Division II, didn’t do anything to harm their reputation by shooting 58.8 percent from the floor in the win. Montevallo, which knocked down 13-of-19 3-point attempts, improved to 11-5 overall and 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play with the victory.

The 68.4 percent mark from 3-point range broke the 64.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc (11-of-17) in a win over Henderson State University on Nov. 29, 2007.

Sophomore Troran Brown continued his recent torrid scoring pace with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Brown also dished out a game-high eight assists.

Senior Marvin Fitzgerald and sophomore Ryan May added 19 points each. Fitzgerald finished 8-of-11 from the floor, while May shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Senior Travis DeShazior added eight points, four rebounds and five assists. Senior Drico Hightower chipped in six points.

Junior Silas Mills added four points and eight rebounds, while junior Jarrid Schroeder contributed two points off the bench.

The game remained a one-possession game for the majority of the opening half, with Brown’s jumper with 12:28 remaining in the half giving the Falcons a 20-15 lead, which turned out to be the largest lead by either team in the first half.

UNC Pembroke went ahead 42-38 following a layup by George Blakeney with 48 seconds left in the half before Brown knocked down a 3-pointer 14 seconds later to trim the deficit to 42-41 heading into the locker room at halftime.

The Falcons took over the game early in the second half. DeShazior knocked down a 3-pointer with 10:54 remaining in the second half to give Montevallo its first double-digit lead in the game, 60-49.

Montevallo continued to stretch its lead late in the game, with a 3-pointer by May giving the Falcons a 78-56 lead with 4:37 remaining in the contest.

Montevallo returns to action Thursday, Jan. 24 with a trip to Columbus, Ga. to face Columbus State University in a Peach Belt Conference contest. The Falcons defeated the Cougars 81-71 in their conference opener Dec. 15.