FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team moved up to No. 10 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II coaches poll, which was released Dec. 10.

The Falcons (7-0) moved up two spots in the most recent poll and are now ranked in the top 10 for the first time since December 2010. Montevallo’s highest ranking came during the 2005-06 season, when the Falcons spent six weeks as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

The Falcons have been ranked for four consecutive weeks after being listed in the teams receiving votes category in the preseason poll. The Falcons were ranked No.22 in the first regular season poll and No. 16 in the second poll before moving up to No. 12 in last week’s poll.

The Falcons, who received 235 votes in the latest poll, defeated Stillman College 83-65 in a non-conference game Dec. 3 at Trustmark Arena before wrapping up non-conference play Dec. 7 with a 69-58 win on the road at the University of West Florida.

Montevallo is one of three Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in the top 25 in the latest poll. Georgia Southwestern State University moved up one spot to No. 21 in the most recent poll, while UNC Pembroke moved into the top 25 and is ranked No. 22 in the latest poll. USC Aiken is the only other conference team receiving votes in the national poll.

West Liberty (W. Va.) remained No. 1 in the latest poll and received 13 first-place votes. Bellarmine (Ky.) is again ranked No. 2 and received three two-place votes. Drury (Mo.), Florida Southern and Western Washington round out the top five, with Florida Southern receiving one first-place vote.

Junior Troran Brown currently ranks third in the Peach Belt Conference with an average of 19.3 points per game. The 6-foot-2 guard from Phoenix, Ariz. is also leading the conference with an average of 7.4 assists per game, which ranks him fifth nationally in NCAA Division II. Montevallo is currently leading the conference with its 52.6 percent shooting from the floor, including its 41.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Montevallo is also leading the conference in opponents’ field-goal percentage, limiting foes to 36.2 percent shooting from the floor, which ranks the Falcons fifth nationally in NCAA Division II. The Falcons are also averaging a conference-best 9.3 steals per game.

The Falcons return to action Saturday, Dec. 14 as they open Peach Belt Conference play on the road at Columbus State University. Tip-off at the Frank G. Lumpkin, Jr. Center is set for 2:30 p.m.

Montevallo returns home to Trustmark Arena for a conference game Tuesday, Dec. 17 against GRU Augusta. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Fans are invited to celebrate the holiday season with Freddie the Falcon and the Deer Valley Elementary School Dance Club will perform to “Oh Santa!” during halftime.