FROM STAFF REPORTS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team took NCAA Division I opponent Purdue University down to the wire in a 70-61 setback against the Big Ten Conference opponent.

The Falcons, who made their first ever NCAA Division II National Championship game appearance last season, trailed by just eight points at halftime and cut the deficit to four points with less than 10 minutes to play in front of an announced crowd of 12,571 at Mackey Arena in the exhibition game.

Senior Marvin Fitzgerald led Montevallo, which dressed only eight players, with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the exhibition game.

Junior Troran Brown contributed 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, including a 4-of-5 performance from beyond the arc, and six boards. Sophomore Ryan May, who also grabbed six rebounds, added eight points, while senior Drico Hightower chipped in seven points.

Purdue opened the game with a 16-2 run before the Falcons closed the opening half with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 32-24 entering the locker room at halftime.

Montevallo kept the margin within single digits for the majority of the second half. A pair of free throws by Avery Jirmnson cut the deficit to just four points, 54-50, with 9:23 remaining in the contest.

Purdue stretched its lead back to 61-51 with just more than six minutes remaining. The Falcons cut the margin to 66-60 on a 3-pointer by May with 2:58 remaining in the game, but a 3-pointer by the Boilermakers’ Anthony Johnson on their next possession sealed the victory for the home team.

The Falcons return to action Nov. 5 for their final exhibition game on the road at Ole Miss. The exhibition contest at Tad Smith Coliseum is set to tip off at 7 p.m.

Montevallo opens the regular season Nov. 13 at home at BankTrust Arena against Stillman College. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. in the Falcons’ home opener.