MONTGOMERY, Ala. – AUM made a season-high 13 3-pointers and put a second-half blitz on Montevallo as the Warhawks claimed a 93-85 win at the AUM Athletics Complex Saturday.
AUM (6-6, 3-4) shot 45 percent from the floor – 50 in the second half – and was 28-for-35 at the free throw line.
Paul Lanzi scored 24 points with a career-high five 3-pointers. In the last two games, he has made 9-of-16 from outside and combined for 52 points.
Arion Lewis had 20 on 7-of-11 shooting with four triples, five assists and a steal.
Trent Coleman came off the bench to register his fifth double-digit scoring game, pouring in 13 with a game-high seven rebounds.
UM (10-3, 6-1) shot 53 percent and held a 38-to-27 rebounding edge. The Falcons saw their 6-game winning streak end while making just 3-of-17 from outside. Brandon Fussell had 25 points, six assists and two steals.
Saturday's outcome marked the fifth-consecutive game in the series and seventh of last nine that was decided by single digits.
The teams went back and forth for 11 minutes before Montevallo broke a 19-19 tie with a Tyson Sexton 3-pointer and two Derek Moore free throws. The Falcons led by eight on two occasions before the Warhawks battled back.
AUM outscored UM 16-8 in the final five minutes and regained the lead late in the half at 39-37 with a 9-0 run that was capped with an emphatic fast break slam by
Jamir Williams. The teams went into the break tied at 39.
That set the stage for a back-and-forth final 20 minutes that featured five lead changes and four ties.
AUM forced UM into turnovers on back-to-back possessions midway through the second and then scored on each ensuing play. The Warhawks used a 10-3 run for a 77-71 lead with 6:33 remaining. From there, the margin never got closer than four as AUM improved to 4-2 at home.
AUM will return to action on Thursday at West Alabama (8-5, 6-3). Tip-off at Pruitt Gym in Livingston, Alabama is set for 7 p.m.
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