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By: Josh Fuller

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Columbus State University men's basketball team dropped an 85-72 decision Saturday at Montevallo. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside Trustmark Arena in Montevallo.
 
JaCori Payne had a nice scoring day with a team-high 28 points after going 5-for-10 from 3-point range. Ryan Burnett and Darius Joell had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Joell had a season-best eight assists.
 
"We played well today, but Montevallo was just one step ahead of us," said head coach Robert Moore. "We went through a cold stretch to begin the second half and it cost us.
 
"The good thing is that we still have two games to play and I know the guys will bring some big time intensity to those games."
 
Montevallo (17-7, 11-6 PBC) was up six at half before Payne hit a 3 to begin the second half that made it a one-possession game. However, the Falcons played great over a five-minute stretch going on a 15-1 run to move ahead 56-39. CSU missed five shots during the run allowing the Falcons to run away.
 
The Cougars struggled to get back in the game cutting the margin to single-digits a few times over the final 10-plus minutes. Burnett made a layup to cut it to a 60-52 game with 10:07 remaining, but UM quickly extended the lead back to 11. A pair of Burnett free throws with 9:14 on the clock was the final time CSU was within single digits.
 
To start off the game, Montevallo scored the first five points before Columbus State (16-8, 9-8) stormed back. The Cougars would score the game's next 11 points to move in front 11-5. CSU had three 3's in the spurt, including two from Burnett.
 
The Falcons would slowly get back in the game eventually tying the game at 16 with 11:57 on the clock.
 
With 10:46 to play in the half, the Cougars were up 21-19 after a Marcus Dixon layup. However, the Falcons took control of the game going on a 10-1 run to go ahead 29-22. UM was able to extend the lead to as many as nine in the half before a Payne 3 made it 41-35 at the break.
 
Columbus State shot the ball well going 25-for-60 (41.7 percent) from the floor. The Cougars shot 37 percent (10-for-27) from 3 and 63.2 percent (12-for-19) from the free throw line.
 
Montevallo shot 52.9 percent (27-for-51) overall, while going 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from 3. The Falcons were great from the line shooting 82.1 percent (23-for-28). UM turned the ball over just six times while forcing 13.
 
Columbus State will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 18 against North Georgia. Tipoff will be at 3:30 p.m. in Dahlonega.