Story By: Brayden George

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team is set to host Lee University in the first round of 2026 Gulf South Conference Basketball Championships.

The game will be Monday, March 2, in Central State Bank Arena, with tipoff at 7p.m.

Falcons post best regular season since 2014-15

The Falcons ended the regular season with a 21-7 record after an 86-80 win over Valdosta State University on Friday, Feb. 27.

The 21-7 record is the best posted by a Falcons team in the regular season since going 21-8 in the 2014-15 season. That team would go on to win the Peach Belt Conference Championship and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Tournament, before ultimately losing to the University of Mount Olive.

21 wins also marks a season high for fourth-year head coach Anthony Komara, who led the Falcons to their first NCAA postseason appearance last season for the first time since 2016.

The Falcons were led through the regular season by senior forward Derek Moore, who averaged 18.3 points and 6.9 over 26 games.

2026 GSC Basketball Championships

Before opening the season, the Falcons were picked No. 1 in the Gulf South Conference preseason coaches’ poll. Junior guard Brandon Fussell and senior forward Jaylen Curry were also named to the preseason GSC All-Conference team.

The Falcons ended the regular season with a 17-5 record in GSC play, earning them No. 2 seed in the GSC Championships tournament.

The GSC Championships is an eight-team, single-elimination tournament in which the higher-seeded team hosts each game. Round one consists of four games and begins Monday, March 2.

  • No. 1 West Alabama vs. No. 8 Delta State, 6 p.m.
  • No. 2 Montevallo vs. No. 7 Lee, 7 p.m.
  • No. 3 West Florida vs. No. 6 Trevecca Nazarene, 7 p.m.
  • No. 4 UAH vs. No. 5 Valdosta State, 7:30 p.m.

If the Falcons defeat Lee on Monday night, they will host the winner of No. 3 West Florida vs. No. 6 Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday, March 5.

The GSC conference championship will take place on Sunday, March 8.

Last season in the 2025 Truist GSC Men’s Basketball Championships, the Falcons came in as the No. 3 seed, and defeated No. 6 West Alabama before falling in the second round to No. 2 Valdosta State 81-79.

Monday night vs. Lee University at 7 p.m.

On Monday night, Montevallo will host the Lee University Flames in Central State Bank Arena at 7p.m. All students are encouraged to attend to support the Falcons.

The Falcons faced the Flames twice in the regular season. The first came on Dec. 4 at Lee University, in which Falcons fell 51-75.

The second meeting was Jan. 24, the Falcons won 71-66 to split the two teams regular season meetings.

Students and faculty can attend Monday’s game for free with a valid UM student ID.

Tickets will be $12 for general admission for all others and can be purchased online now.

Postseason implications

The Falcons are currently ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II South Region rankings, behind No. 1 Nova Southeastern, No. 2 Palm Beach Atlantic and No. 3 West Alabama.

The Falcons appear likely to return to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, but with higher hopes after exiting in the first round last season with a loss to Florida Southern College 83-86.

Montevallo’s best run in the NCAA Tournament came in the 2011-12 season, when the Falcons lost to Western Washington in the NCAA Division II Championship.