FROM STAFF REPORTS

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Montevallo sophomore Vaughn Autry knocked down 1-of-2 free throws with 10 seconds remaining and Ebo Smith of North Georgia misfired on a three-pointer in the final seconds to seal the Falcons 79-78 win on the road in Peach Belt Conference play.

The Nighthawks raced out to a 9-2 lead in the early stages of the first half following a jumper by T.J. Williams with 15:52 remaining in the half.

The Falcons responded with an impressive 17-4 run, capped with a layup by senior Bryant Orange, to take a 19-13 advantage with 8:44 left in the opening half. The six-point lead marked the Falcons’ largest lead in the first half.

North Georgia came back with a 6-0 run, capped with a layup by Juan Rivas, to tie the contest at 19-19 with 7:09remaining in the half. The Falcons used a 7-0 run, capped with a layup by senior Terrell Lipkins, to take a 31-24 lead with 3:08 left in the opening half.

North Georgia responded with a 12-5 run to tie the game at 36-36 before Lipkins knocked down a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining in the half to give Montevallo a 38-36 lead at the break.

Corey Green drained a three-pointer with 17:46 remaining in the game to give the Nighthawks a 47-42 lead. The Falcons responded with a 10-3 run, capped with a layup by Lipkins, to take back the lead at 52-50 with 14:01 left in the second half.

North Georgia went on a 9-0 run late in the second half to erase a one-point deficit and take a 74-66 lead following a pair of free throws by Michael Varrichione with 4:11 remaining in the game. The Nighthawks’ eight-point lead marked the largest deficit in the game for the Falcons.

Montevallo closed the game with a furious 13-4 rally to clinch the one-point victory. Junior Kevin Kelly started the run with a three-ball and Lipkins turned it into a one-possession game at 78-75 with his three with 2:13 left in the contest.

Orange tied the game at 78-78 with a layup with 41 seconds remaining. Autry rebounded a missed layup by Sean Brennan of North Georgia before Brennan fouled Autry applying pressure in the backcourt with 10 seconds remaining.

Autry missed his first attempt at the charity stripe before knocking down his second attempt to give the Falcons a 79-78 lead. Smith missed a three-pointer in the final seconds before the basketball trailed out of bounds as the buzzer expired to clinch the come-from-behind victory for the Falcons.

STAT OF THE GAME

Montevallo took care of the rock against the Nighthawks, finished with a season-low eight turnovers in the victory over North Georgia.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Junior Julio Guity scored a season-high six points and grabbed a season-best five boards in the win over the Nighthawks.