Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Lander men's basketball team gave No. 10-ranked University of Montevallo everything it had before falling to the Falcons, 82-77, Saturday evening in a Peach Belt Conference matchup in Trustmark Arena.
Montevallo improves to 10-1 overall and 3-1 in the PBC, while Lander moves to 7-6, 1-3.
Lander placed four players in double figures led by JR Washington's 19 points. Michael Panaggio added 18 points, Dermaine Smith 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Jareal Smith 11 points.
Troran Brown led Montevallo with a game-high 28 points, while Shykeem Jackson added 11 points and seven rebounds, Ryan May 10 points and Orlando Brazier seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Bearcats connected on 28-of-73 field goals (38.4 percent), 9-of-29 threes (31 percent), and 12-of-13 free throws (92.3 percent).
Montevallo, which led 36-25 at halftime, made 28-of-49 floor shots (57.1 percent), 7-of-13 threes (53.8 percent) and 19-of-22 foul shots (86.4 percent).
After trailing by double figures most of the first half, Lander cut the lead to 36-32 with 18:05 left in the game on a Washington three.
Montevallo stretched the lead to 13 points at 6:23 on a Ed'Lexus Collier dunk. From there, Lander outscored the Falcons, 15-5 over the next four minutes to trim the margin to 69-66 on a pair of Panaggio free throws.
A Panaggio three at 1:54 cut the lead to 73-71 with 1:54 left, but Montevallo responded with a six unanswered points to go up 79-71 with 26 seconds remaining.