Story by: Preston Bennett
MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Montevallo’s Men’s Basketball team came out victorious over Valdosta State Friday night at Central State Bank Arena, 86-80. The game went back and forth for most of the night, as there were 16 lead changes. Falcons Head Coach Anthony Komara says he saw he saw his team “just fight.”
“Our guys just do what they do,” Komara says, “They find a way.” The team finishes the regular season 21-7, going 13-1 at home. Derek Moore lead the way in scoring for UM with 25 points, while Brandon Fussell was 2nd with 21. Moore is one of two senior players on the team, with the other being Jaylen Curry.
Moore and Curry were honored before the game, as both players embraced Coach Komara as they walked out with their loved ones. Komara was visibly emotional when speaking about his seniors, saying “they are legends here, and they always will be.”
“Derek and Jaylen came here when there was nothing to believe in except a vision,” Komara says. Curry has been at Montevallo for three years under Coach Komara, transferring from Wallace State Community College. Moore has been on the team for two years, transferring in from Delta State University. Coach Komara has been at the helm for 4 seasons, posting a record of 41-18 in the past two seasons.
“Derek and Jaylen came here when there was nothing to believe in except a vision.”
– Head Coach Anthony Komara
The Falcons enter the 2026 Gulf South Conference Basketball Championships as the two seed in the tournament. They will host the Lee University Flames in the first round tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Coach Komara says his team will need “everybody.”
“We’ve built a little edge here at home because of our community of students and the people that come to the games,” Komara says, “We need to ramp that up, and it needs to be on another level on Monday.” Komara says he knows his guys are “looking forward to it.”
With a win tomorrow night, the Falcons will host the winner between West Florida and Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday.
Vallo Vision News 