WINSTON-SALEM – A 3-pointer by
Andrew Evans just less than five minutes into the game gave the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team the lead for good as the Braves used 60 percent field goal shooting in the second half to cruise to an 84-62 win at Winston-Salem State on Wednesday evening.
The result marked the fourth-straight victory for the Braves (5-1) who will now take a 10-day hiatus from competition to focus on final exams next week. It was the third loss in the last four outings for the Rams (3-4) who also dropped an 86-72 decision to UNCP on November 19 in Pembroke.
James Murray-Boyles came off the bench to score a game-best 18 points in just 21 minutes of action for the Braves, while
Andrew Evans notched his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. Fellow newcomer
Nigel Grant scored 17 points and finished one rebound shy of notching his second double-double of the season.
Alex Bradley chipped in 16 point and nine assists in the effort as well.
William Crandell scored 17 points to pace the Rams who shot just 29.6 percent in the first half and were out-rebounded by a 47-32 disparity. Robert Colon chipped in 16 points for the hosts, while Carlos Rankins added 10.
WSSU tacked up four-straight points to start the second half and trim its deficit down to single digits, but
Akia Pruitt's dunk at the 17:34 mark sparked the visitors on a 14-4 run that put the game out of reach. UNCP led by as much as 30 points, 82-52, after a 3-pointer by Evans with 2:48 to play.
A 3-pointer by Rankins just more than two minutes into the game helped Winston-Salem State stake claim to its only lead of the game, 3-2, but the Braves answered with a 3-pointer by Evans on the other end of the court and would never trail again. The visitors pushed their lead out to double digits, 31-21, on a fastbreak 3-pointer by Bradley with 3:46 left before intermission, and eventually carried a 35-24 advantage into the locker rooms.
The Black & Gold will continue a three-game road trip on December 10 when it makes the short trek to Wilson to lock horns with Barton (2-4) in Wilson Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
