Miles Falls to Montevallo in OT
Box Score As far as opening acts go, new head coach
Leon Douglas certainly knows how to entertain a packed house.
Miles erased a 14-point deficit in the last eight minutes of regulation to force overtime but never was able to get over the hump in a 69-64 loss to fifth-ranked Montevallo in the Golden Bears' home opener at Knox-Windham Gymnasium.
Maiscei Grier came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points but it was not enough to overcome the Falcons (1-3), who had four players in double figures en route to their first victory of the season.
The Golden Bears (1-1) struggled to score in the first half but trailed just 21-19 at the break as they held the Falcons to just 29 percent shooting from the field. But when Montevallo began to pound the ball inside for point-blank baskets in the second helf, it looked like Miles would not have enough to keep the game close.
But one of the hallmarks of Douglas-coached teams is tenacious pressure that quickens the tempo and forces turnovers. Montevallo succumbed and Miles fought its way right back into the contest. The Falcons would miss a ton of free throws and left the door open for the Golden Bears to tie the game at 56 and force overtime.
Montevallo, again, opened a lead in the extra period but
Tony McAroy (11 points)Â drained a 3-pointer with just more than a minute remaining to tie the score at 64. But it was the last basket of the night for Miles, which missed its last three shots and watched the Falcons go 5-of-6 from the charity stripe to seal the victory.
Patrick Jackson had 19 points and
Albert Peterson added seven points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals for Miles, which travels to Jacksonville State on Saturday. Tip-off is at 4:30 p.m.
