FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – Senior Terrell Lipkins made up for a turnover in the final seconds of regulation with a game-clinching 3-pointer from the top of the key with 14 seconds left in overtime to lift the Falcons to a 90-88 win over visiting Stillman College.

Antonio Penny made a pair of layups early to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game. However, the four points stood as the largest lead for Stillman in the first half.

A layup by senior Bryant Orange with 6:19 remaining in the opening half gave Montevallo a 31-23 advantage, marking the Falcons’ largest lead in the first half. Jamon Jackson-Wilson made a layup at the buzzer in the opening half to trim the Falcons’ lead to 43-38 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Montevallo opened the second half with a 4-0 run following baskets from Orange and junior Kevin Kelly to extend its lead to 47-38. The Tigers battled to keep the margin within single digits over the first seven minutes of the second half before a 3-pointer by Lipkins with 13:06 remaining gave the Falcons a 59-49 advantage, their first double-digit lead in the game.

Stillman managed to make it a one-possession game with 1:25 remaining when Maurice Crenshaw was fouled on a 3-point attempt and converted the four-point play, which trimmed the Falcons’ lead to 78-76. A layup by junior Talan Whitaker with 57 seconds remaining pushed the Montevallo lead to 80-76 before Marquis Chatman and Ronald Singleton each knocking down a pair of free throws in the final minute to tie the game at 80-80.

Lipkins turned the ball over with five seconds remaining as he attempted to pass the ball inside to Kelly as he was cutting to the basket. Penny missed a runner at the buzzer to force the game into overtime.

Matrell Smith gave Stillman a 84-82 lead on a layup with 3:22 remaining in overtime. Senior Malik Fields tied the game at 85-85 on a jumper from the baseline with 1:43 left in overtime before Orange gave the Falcons the lead for good on a layup with 48 seconds remaining.

Lipkins knocked down the critical 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to give the Falcons a 90-85 lead.  Rodnerius Lewis made a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it was too late for the Tigers to change the outcome.

STAT OF THE GAME

Montevallo shot a season-best 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from beyond the arc against the Tigers. Senior Terrell Lipkins led the effort as he finished 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Senior Bryant Orange scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the floor and a 6-of-7 performance at the charity stripe.

Junior Kevin Kelly dished out a career-high five assists with just one turnover against the Tigers.

QUOTABLE

Senior Terrell Lipkins

“The last time to go into overtime, coach (Danny Young) wanted me to shoot it, but I passed it and turned it over. So, on this play, the only thing was to get the shot up this time. It didn’t matter if it was a three or I was going to the hole.

“I get so emotional, and it’s to the point now to where I’m starting to learn how to handle it and keep it under control. At night, I tell myself next game I’m going to have to control my frustrations.”