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Christian Brothers University Athletics

MBB2425 Mann
Pastor Arkoh, Photographer
66
Christian Brothers CB 4-6,0-4 Gulf South
70
Winner Montevallo Mont 9-2,5-0 Gulf South
Christian Brothers CB
4-6,0-4 Gulf South
66
Final
70
Montevallo Mont
9-2,5-0 Gulf South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Christian Brothers CB 26 40 66
Montevallo Mont 45 25 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | James Garcia, Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications

Men's Basketball's second-half comeback comes up short at Montevallo

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Christian Brothers University men's basketball team (4-6, 0-4 GSC) fell short in a close 70–66 contest against the Montevallo Falcons (9-2, 5-0 GSC) in a hard-fought game at the Central State Bank Arena on Thursday night. Despite a valiant second-half effort, the Buccaneers could not overcome Montevallo's dominant first-half performance.

First Half Struggles

Christian Brothers struggled early, falling behind as Montevallo shot an impressive 60 percent from the field, including 58.3 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. Montevallo's Jaylen Curry led the offensive charge, scoring 17 points overall. The Falcons built a commanding 45–26 halftime lead, with standout contributions from Brandon Fussell and Derek Moore, who added 16 points apiece.

The Bucs had difficulty finding their rhythm in the opening period, shooting 37.9 percent from the field and only 27.3 percent from three-point range. Forward Christian Thompson anchored the defense with nine rebounds in the first half.

Second-Half Surge

CBU showed resilience in the second half, outscoring Montevallo 40–25. Guard Tane Kirisome hit clutch three-pointers, finishing with 16 points and four assists. Iman Kheirati also stepped up, contributing 15 points, including 3-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. The Bucs tightened their defense, limiting Montevallo's shooting to 40 percent in the second half while capitalizing on turnovers and fast-break opportunities.

Kyler Mann proved crucial in the comeback attempt, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds, including four offensive boards. The Buccaneers clawed their way back into contention with a strong run late in the game, tying the score at 66–66 with under two minutes left after back-to-back three pointers were made by Mann and Kirisome.

Key Moments

Montevallo's Brandon Fussell made decisive plays down the stretch, including a go-ahead free throw with 1:08 remaining. The Falcons held their nerve in the final moments, as Fussell sealed the victory with a critical layup and free throw to extend their lead to four points.

Key Players for CBU

Kyler Mann
Performance: Mann was a pivotal figure for Christian Brothers, scoring 14 points and grabbing a team-high 9 rebounds, including 4 on the offensive glass.
Impact: His relentless energy on both ends of the floor, especially in the second half, helped spark the Buccaneers' comeback attempt.

Tane Kirisome
Performance: Kirisome showcased his shooting skills, scoring 16 points, including four three-pointers, while adding 4 assists.
Impact: His timely scoring and ability to distribute the ball kept Christian Brothers competitive in the second half.

Iman Kheirati
Performance: Kheirati contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds, including critical shots from beyond the arc.
Impact: His presence in the paint and ability to stretch the floor with three-point shooting made him a versatile weapon for the Buccaneers.

Christian Thompson
Performance: Thompson dominated the boards with a game-high 15 rebounds, along with 8 points.
Impact: His rebounding and defensive efforts were vital in limiting Montevallo's second-chance opportunities.

Allen Hughes
Performance: Hughes was effective as a two-way player, scoring 11 points, dishing out 9 assists, and contributing defensively with 4 steals.
Impact: His playmaking ability and defensive hustle kept the team in contention during crucial stretches.

Team Stats

  • Christian Brothers:
    • Field Goals: 25/64 (39.1%)
    • Three-Point Shooting: 10/30 (33.3%)
    • Free Throws: 6/13 (46.2%)
    • Rebounds: 40 (18 offensive)
  • Montevallo:
    • Field Goals: 26/50 (52.0%)
    • Three-Point Shooting: 10/19 (52.6%)
    • Free Throws: 8/15 (53.3%)
    • Rebounds: 29 (6 offensive)

Takeaways

Christian Brothers displayed great effort in the second half, with better ball movement and defensive intensity. However, the early deficit and Montevallo's efficient scoring proved insurmountable. The Buccaneers' inability to convert free throws (46.2%) was a missed opportunity in a tightly contested matchup.

Looking Ahead

The Buccaneers will aim to build on their second-half momentum as they prepare for the next game. Strong performances from Kirisome and Mann provide optimism for future contests, but Christian Brothers will need to start stronger to avoid falling into similar deficits.

Despite the defeat, the Buccaneers demonstrated their resilience and ability to compete against one of the conference's top teams.
 
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