FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team is ranked No. 20 in the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II poll for the 2015-16 season.The national ranking marks the second of the preseason for the Falcons, who were also ranked No. 9 nationally in NCAA Division II in the Small College Preview in The Sporting News’ Basketball Yearbook.

The Falcons feature one returning starter and one key reserve off the bench from a year ago, when Montevallo finished the season with a 26-9 record on its way to capturing the Peach Belt Conference regular season and conference tournament championships.

The Falcons also advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 for the seventh time in program history.

With the preseason ranking, the Falcons have been ranked in the top 25 in eight different seasons under coach Danny Young, including a national ranking at some point during the year in each of the past five seasons.

The Falcons’ highest ever ranking came in the first poll of the 2005-06 season, where Montevallo was the top-ranked team in the nation in NCAA Division II.

Montevallo is one of three Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in the top 25 in the preseason poll. UNC Pembroke is ranked No. 13 in the poll and Augusta University is ranked No. 23, three spots behind the Falcons.

Two other teams in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region are ranked in the top 25. Lincoln Memorial University is ranked No. 5 nationally and Mount Olive University is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll.

The Falcons feature one returning starter in Malik Fields, a 6-foot-7 senior forward who averaged 6.9 points and five rebounds per game. Senior Bryant Orange, a 6-foot-3 guard, played a key role off the bench a year ago after averaging 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

The Falcons will open the 2015-16 season Friday, Nov. 13 against Carver Bible College. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.