2011-12 UNCP Men's Basketball News

July 25, 2012
Basketball Camp Attracts Record Numbers
The fourth annual Ben Miller Basketball Camp continued to attract a record number of campers to the English E. Jones Center in June.

May 18, 2012
It’s ‘California or Bust’ for Men's Basketball Team
The resurgent men’s basketball team is hitting the road next fall to gain early season experience and exposure, according to coach Ben Miller, and they may need a little help to get there.

April 27, 2012
Men’s Basketball To Host Day, Team Camps In June
The UNC Pembroke men’s basketball program has announced the dates for the 2012 Boys Basketball Summer Camps that will be conducted by Braves head coach Ben Miller and his coaching staff. The docket includes both a day camp, as well as a team camp.

April 11, 2012
Men’s Hoops Inks Four To National Letters Of Intent
UNCP men’s basketball head coach Ben Miller announced four additions to his 2011-12 recruiting class on Wednesday as in-state products Alex Bradley, Kyle Buffkin, Chris Lindsay and Tyler Thayer all inked their names to national letters of intent to continue their playing career with the Braves.

April 5, 2012
Brackett, Heath Named To NCCSIA All-State Team
Senior Marcus Heath and junior Shahmel Brackett picked up postseason honors on Thursday afternoon as the duo was among 10 players named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State squad.

March 2, 2012
Braves To Meet Montevallo In Opening Round Of PBC Tournament
The UNCP men’s basketball team will begin its run in the postseason on Friday afternoon when the Braves take on red hot Montevallo in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at the Lumpkin Center in Columbus, Ga.

March 2, 2012
Montevallo Ends Season For Braves In First Round of PBC Tournament
Montevallo erased a 15-point deficit midway through the first period with a 29-11 run that spanned both halves as the Falcons advanced through to the semifinal round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament with a 74-62 victory over UNCP on Friday afternoon.

February 28, 2012
Brackett Named To All-Peach Belt Conference Team
The postseason honors began to roll in for the UNCP men’s basketball team on Tuesday as junior guard Shahmel Brackett earned a spot on the All-Peach Belt Conference squad for the second-straight season.

February 25, 2012
Braves, Lady Braves Trek To Lander For Regular Season Finale
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will both carry three-game winning streaks into Greenwood, S.C., on Saturday as the Braves and Lady Braves slap the lid on their 2011-12 regular season against Lander in Horne Arena.

February 25, 2012
Braves Fall At Lander In Regular Season Finale
Lander shot nearly 59 percent in the second half and used a 19-3 run midway through the first half to turn back visiting UNCP, 79-75, in the final regular season game for both teams on Saturday afternoon in Finis Horne Arena.

February 25, 2012
Brackets Released For 2012 PBC Basketball Tournaments
The Lady Braves will represent the East Division as the No. 3 seed, while the Braves will compete as the No. 4 seed out of the division, with the release of the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Tournament brackets on Saturday evening.

February 19, 2012
Braves Edge Flagler To Close Out Home Schedule
UNCP used a 7-0 run midway through the second half to gain the upper hand, but needed a pair of late defensive stands in holding off visiting Flagler, 76-71, on Sunday afternoon at the English E. Jones Center.

February 18, 2012
UNCP Hoops Squads To Host Armstrong Atlantic On Saturday
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will continue a three-game home stand on Saturday when the Braves and Lady Braves welcome Armstrong Atlantic to Pembroke for a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

February 18, 2012
Braves Rout Armstrong Atlantic, Shatter Record For PBC Victories
UNCP shot better than 53 percent from the field in each half and dominated the paint on both ends of the court en route to capturing their school-record 10th Peach Belt Conference victory of the season with an 89-64 win over Armstrong Atlantic on Saturday.

February 15, 2012
UNCP Hoops Opens Three-Game Home Stand On Wednesday
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will play the first of three home games in five days on Wednesday when the squads suit up to welcome Francis Marion to Pembroke for a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

February 15, 2012
Braves Hold Off Francis Marion To Stay In PBC Race
Marcus Heath’s 3-pointer with 12:07 to play in the first half gave UNCP a lead it would never relinquish, but the Braves had to hold off visiting Francis Marion down the stretch before pulling out an 88-85 victory over the Patriots on Wednesday evening at the English E. Jones Center.

February 11, 2012
Braves, Lady Braves Travel To Face Nationally Ranked USC Aiken Squads
Fresh off emotional victories at home on Wednesday, the UNCP men's and women's basketball squads will take to the road once again on Saturday when the Braves and Lady Braves trek to Aiken, S.C., to battle a pair of nationally-ranked USC Aiken squads.

February 11, 2012
No. 20 USC Aiken Uses Late Rally To Slip Past Braves
USC Aiken shot nearly 60 percent from the field in the second half, including a magical 7-of-8 success rate from the perimeter, to erase an 11-point deficit with six minutes left to play and stun visiting UNCP, 81-78, on Saturday evening in the Convocation Center.

February 8, 2012
UNCP Basketball Squads Welcome Augusta State On Wednesday
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will return home for the first time since January 22 on Wednesday when they suit up to battle PBC East Division foe Augusta State in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

February 8, 2012
Streak’s Over! Braves Turn Back Augusta State
UNCP scored 15 points off of 11 Augusta State turnovers and held off a late charge to record its first win over the perennial Peach Belt Conference powerhouse for the first time in 10 years with a 59-58 victory over the visiting Jaguars on Wednesday evening.

February 2, 2012
Braves, Lady Braves Wrap Up Road Trip At Francis Marion
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will put the cap on a tough four-game Peach Belt Conference road trip on Thursday when the squads head to Florence, S.C., to battle PBC East rival Francis Marion in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader inside the Smith University Center.

February 2, 2012
Strong Second Half Helps Francis Marion Turn Back Braves
Visiting UNCP shot better than 50 percent in the first half en route to a sizeable halftime advantage, but a myriad of empty trips to the free throw line in the second half was enough to negate the advantage as the Braves dropped a 79-74 road decision at Francis Marion.

January 31, 2012
20 Questions With Basketball's Marcus Heath
UNCPBraves.com sat down with senior guard Marcus Heath to learn of his opinion on a variety of topics ranging from the talent he would like to have to how he wants to be remembered when he leaves Pembroke.

January 29, 2012
Braves Stop Skid, Hang On At Georgia Southwestern
Visiting UNCP shot better than 47 percent from the field and used a key 7-0 run late in the second half to turn back preseason league favorite Georgia Southwestern, 68-60, on Sunday afternoon in the Storm Dome.

January 28, 2012
UNCP Basketball Squads Battle Columbus State Saturday
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will continue a four-game Peach Belt Conference road trip on Saturday when they head to Columbus State for a 1:30 p.m. basketball doubleheader in the Lumpkin Center.

January 28, 2012
Braves Erase 16-Point Deficit, Fall In Final Minute At Columbus State
Columbus State matched a pair of season highs with 52 percent shooting from the field and a dozen 3-pointers, but nearly let a 16-point second half lead get away before swatting away a late rally by UNCP en route to a 79-76 victory over the Braves on Saturday.

January 25, 2012
UNCP Hoops Begins Four-Game Road Trip At Augusta State
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will open up a four-game road trip on Wednesday evening when the Braves and Lady Braves travel to Augusta, Ga., for a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader with Augusta State inside Christenberry Fieldhouse.

January 25, 2012
Augusta State Holds Off Visiting Braves
Augusta State used nine 3-pointers and a myriad of free throws to grab a 14-point lead midway through the second half, but the Jaguars were forced to hold off a last-minute run by visiting UNCP en route to capturing a 76-72 win over the Braves on Wednesday evening.

January 22, 2012
UNCP Hoops Squads Battle Georgia College In PBC Inter-Divisional Matchup
Still floating on the emotional wave of two convincing upsets on Wednesday evening at home, the UNCP basketball teams will close out their January home schedule on Sunday when the Braves and Lady Braves suit up to welcome Georgia College.

January 22, 2012
Braves Upset By Georgia College
Visiting Georgia College scored 26 points off of 18 UNCP turnovers and held the Braves to one of their worst shooting performances of the season en route to a 64-60 upset on Sunday afternoon in the English E. Jones Center.

January 18, 2012
Heath, Braves Too Much For No. 19 USC Aiken
UNCP used a pair of pivotal scoring spurts in the second half to break open an otherwise close game and held visiting USC Aiken to sub-40 percent shooting in each half as the Braves took over possession of first place in the PBC East with a 78-69 win over the 19th-ranked Pacers.

January 18, 2012
Basketball’s Marcus Heath Named UNCP Student-Athlete Of The Week
Having played a critical role in a key win for the UNCP men’s basketball team at North Georgia on Thursday, senior Marcus Heath has been named this week’s UNCP Student-Athlete of the Week.

January 12, 2012
UNCP Hoops To Face North Georgia In PBC Tilt
The UNCP basketball teams will hit the road for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Thursday evening against North Georgia inside the Memorial Hall Gymnasium in Dahlonega, Ga. The women’s game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.

January 12, 2012
Hot-Shooting Braves Race Past North Georgia
Visiting UNCP shot nearly 55 percent from the field, including a 62 percent exhibition in the second half, and dominated the paint on both ends of the court en route to a 73-69 victory over North Georgia on Thursday evening.

January 11, 2012
20 Questions With Men’s Basketball Shahmel Brackett
UNCPBraves.com sat down with junior guard Shahmel Brackett to learn of his opinion on a variety of topics ranging from his idea of perfect happiness to how he wants to be remembered when he leaves Pembroke.

January 9, 2012
Basketball’s Shahmel Brackett Named UNCP Student-Athlete Of The Week
After playing a key role in two home games for the Braves last week, including a clutch midweek victory over Clayton State, junior Shahmel Brackett has been named this week’s UNCP Student-Athlete of the Week.

January 7, 2012
Basketball Teams Host Montevallo Saturday
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will continue their January home stand on Saturday when the Braves and Lady Braves welcome Montevallo to Pembroke for a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

January 7, 2012
Montevallo Serves Braves First League Loss Of Season
Visiting Montevallo used a career-best 29 points from Jonas Brown, a healthy rebounding advantage and a key 9-0 run with less than four minutes remaining to deal UNCP its first Peach Belt Conference loss of the season with a 74-69 victory over the Braves on Saturday afternoon.

January 5, 2012
Braves, Lady Braves Open Up New Year Against Clayton State
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will make their 2012 debut on Thursday when the Braves and Lady Braves entertain Clayton State in a 5:30 p.m. basketball doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

January 5, 2012
Braves Hold Off Clayton State, Move To 4-0 In PBC Play
Home-standing UNCP connected on 34 of its 42 free throw attempts and used a monstrous run midway through the first half to turn back Clayton State, 78-73, and grab its first win over the Lakers since 2008 on Thursday evening.

December 30, 2011
Braves Usher Out 2011 With Win Over Shawnee State
Home-standing UNCP used 69 percent shooting in the first half to take a 15-point lead into the locker room, and then held off a late charge by visiting Shawnee State to secure its seventh win in the last eight outings with an 80-65 win over the Bears on Friday afternoon.

December 19, 2011
Braves, Lady Braves Wrap Up PBC Road Swing At Armstrong Atlantic
Exuberant after capturing key Peach Belt Conference Eastern Division victories at Flagler on Saturday, the UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will wrap up an early PBC road swing by visiting Armstrong Atlantic on Monday.

December 19, 2011
Sizzling Second Half Helps Braves Sink Armstrong Atlantic
Armstrong Atlantic nailed a season-best 15 3-pointers and shot 55 percent from the field, but UNCP used timely rebounding and a lights-out offensive performance in the second half to run past the Pirates, 96-88, on Monday evening in Alumni Arena.

December 17, 2011
Braves, Lady Braves Travel To Battle PBC East Rival Flagler
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will step back into Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday when the Braves and Lady Braves trek to St. Augustine, Fla., to do battle with East Division foe Flagler.

December 17, 2011
Braves Hold Off Flagler To Snap Road Skid
Marcus Heath’s old-fashioned 3-point play with 96 seconds left gave visiting UNCP the final lead of the contest, but the Braves needed a clutch defensive stand with four seconds remaining to hold off Flagler, 66-64, on Saturday afternoon at Flagler Gymnasium.

December 12, 2011
Streaking Braves Travel To Battle Red-Hot Mount Olive
Riding the crest of its longest winning streak in 10 months, the UNCP men’s basketball team will pack up its show for the first time in three weeks and head to Mount Olive for a 7 p.m. tilt with the Trojans on Monday evening in Kornegay Arena.

December 12, 2011
Braves Rally, But Fall Just Short At Mount Olive
UNCP shot better than 53 percent in the second half and led by as much as nine points with 10 minutes remaining, but red-hot Mount Olive used a 16-5 run over the next five minutes to help the Trojans clip the visiting Braves, 69-68, on Monday evening at Kornegay Arena.

December 3, 2011
Braves Hold Off Lander In Peach Belt Conference Opener
Visiting Lander trimmed an 18-point second half deficit down to just four with 75 seconds left, but home-standing UNCP used timely rebounding, as well as dead-aim free throw shooting, down the stretch to sneak away with a 79-75 win over the Bearcats on Saturday afternoon.

December 2, 2011
Basketball Squads Open Up Conference Action On Saturday
Coming off two victorious nights of basketball action this week, the UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will open up Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday as the teams host Lander in a doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

December 1, 2011
Braves Run Win Streak To Three By Dismantling Morris
UNCP scored 32 points off turnovers, registered a +20 advantage in the rebounding column and shot better than 52 percent in each half en route to a 95-54 victory over visiting Morris on Thursday evening.

December 1, 2011
Basketball Squads Host Morris, Toys For Tots Night On Thursday
Just two days removed from Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep of Fayetteville State, the UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams return to action on Thursday when they match up with NAIA-opponent Morris in a doubleheader at the English E. Jones Center.

November 30, 2011
20 Questions With Men’s Basketball Nathan Priest
UNCPBraves.com sat down with senior forward Nathan Priest to learn of his opinion on a variety of topics ranging from his heroes to how he wants to be remembered when he leaves Pembroke.

November 29, 2011
Braves, Lady Braves Welcome Fayetteville State Tuesday
Sharing the court for the first time this season, the UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will suit up to battle Fayetteville State on Tuesday in a mid-week doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

November 29, 2011
Braves, Lady Braves To Host Toys For Tots Benefit Thursday
In the spirit of the giving season, the UNCP men’s and women’s basketball teams will host their first annual “Toys For Tots Night” on Thursday evening as part of a hoops doubleheader against Morris at the English E. Jones Center.

November 29, 2011
Braves Dominant In 41-Point Rout Of Fayetteville State
Home-standing UNCP shot better than 66 percent from the field, including a torrid 67.6 percent success rate in the second half, to capture its first home victory over Fayetteville State in nearly 19 years with a 107-66 throttling of the visiting Broncos on Tuesday evening.

November 28, 2011
Basketball’s George Blakeney Named UNCP Student-Athlete Of The Week
After playing a key role in leading the UNCP men’s basketball team to a 1-1 record on the week, including a 107-70 victory over visiting Allen on Saturday, forward George Blakeney has been named this week’s UNCP Student-Athlete of the Week.

November 26, 2011
Braves Look To Right Ship Against Allen
The UNCP men’s basketball team will continue a five-game home stand on Saturday when the Braves suit up to host Allen out of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Tip off is set for 7 p.m. in the English E. Jones Center.

November 26, 2011
Braves Reach Century Mark, Sting Allen
Home-standing UNCP shot a season-best 50 percent from the field and used double-figure scoring nights from five different players to snap a two-game skid with a 107-70 victory over visiting Allen on Saturday evening in the English E. Jones Center.

November 22, 2011
Braves Return Home To Battle Wingate On Tuesday
Resolute after splitting a pair of road contests last week, including a thrilling 75-73 victory at Fayetteville State, the UNCP men’s basketball team will return home again on Tuesday to battle region rival Wingate in a 7 p.m. contest at the English E. Jones Center.

November 22, 2011
Visiting Wingate Tops Braves In Overtime
UNCP used a tip-in by Nathan Priest with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the game for the seventh time, but Wingate capitalized on five turnovers by the Braves in overtime to steal a 69-65 victory from the Black & Gold on Tuesday evening.

November 17, 2011
Spartans Protect Home Court, Top Braves 71-58
A fired up UNC Greensboro squad took a 71-58 victory from the UNCP men’s basketball squad in its home opener on Thursday evening at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro.

November 17, 2011
Braves To Take On Spartans At Greensboro Coliseum
Fresh off a dazzling 75-73 victory over Fayetteville State on Tuesday, the UNCP men’s basketball team faces another hard test on Thursday when it battles the Spartans of UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro.

November 15, 2011
Brackett's Bomb, Blakeney's Block Give UNCP 75-73 Victory Over FSU
A 3-pointer with 20 seconds left by Shahmel Brackett gave UNCP a 75-73 victory over Fayetteville State in nonconference action on Tuesday evening at Felton J. Capel Arena in Fayetteville.

November 14, 2011
Basketball’s George Blakeney Named UNCP Student-Athlete Of The Week
Days removed from playing a key role in leading UNCP to a 1-1 record in the 2011 UNCP Men’s Basketball Holiday Classic, including a 22-point victory over St. Andrews on Friday, George Blakeney has been named this week’s UNCP Student-Athlete of the Week.

November 14, 2011
Braves, Broncos Set For I-95 Battle
The UNCP men’s basketball team will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday when it battles Fayetteville State in a nonconference matchup at Felton J. Capel Arena in Fayetteville at 7:30 p.m.

November 12, 2011
Cobras Top Braves 59-53 At Holiday Classic
The visiting Coker Cobras shot a game-changing 20-of-23 (87 percent) from the free throw line during the second half to push itself to a 59-53 nonconference victory over UNCP in men’s basketball action on Saturday.

November 11, 2011
Full Weekend Of Basketball On Tap At UNCP Holiday Classic
The UNCP men’s basketball team will open up its regular season on Friday and Saturday when it plays host to Coker, Francis Marion and St. Andrews in the latest installment of the UNCP Holiday Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Jones Center in Pembroke.

November 11, 2011
Braves Topple Knights In Season Opener, 98-76
George Blakeney and Nathan Priest each recorded double-doubles en route to leading the UNCP men’s basketball squad to a season-opening 98-76 win over St. Andrews on Friday evening at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke.

November 3, 2011
AIA Uses Long Ball For 100-82 Exhibition Win
Visiting Athletes in Action shot a blistering 16-of-33 from long range en route to handing the UNCP men’s basketball team a 100-82 loss in exhibition play on Thursday evening at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke.

November 2, 2011
Braves To Host Exhibition Matchup With Athletes In Action On Thursday
The UNCP men’s basketball squad will have its final tune-up before officially opening its regular season schedule when it hosts Athletes in Action in an exhibition matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke.

November 1, 2011
Braves Tabbed Second In PBC Preseason Coaches' Poll
A set of new expectations continued for the UNCP men’s basketball team when the Braves were picked to finish second in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll when the poll was announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

October 31, 2011
Brackett Named Preseason All-PBC
After a Third Team All-Peach Belt Conference selection last season, UNCP junior guard Shahmel Brackett was named to the 2011-12 PBC Preseason All-Conference Team, which was announced by the league on Monday.

October 28, 2011
Braves To Battle Top-Ranked Tar Heels In Exhibition Matchup
Just eight months removed from turning in its most prolific season since joining the NCAA Division II ranks, the UNCP men’s basketball team will get an early gauge on its upcoming campaign by tangling with No. 1 North Carolina in an exhibition contest inside the Dean Smith Center.

October 28, 2011
No.1 Tar Heels Speed Past UNCP In Exhibition Matchup
The UNCP men's basketball team gave No. 1 North Carolina all it could handle through the first 16:02 of the ballgame, but the Tar Heels used their speed and size advantage to run to a 100-58 victory in an exhibition matchup at the Dean E. Smith Center

October 27, 2011
Miller, Braves Have High Hopes For 2011-12
With basketball season right around the corner, UNCPBraves.com sat down with UNCP head men's basketball coach Ben Miller to discuss his team's outlook heading into the upcoming season.

October 24, 2011
Basketball Season Tickets Now On Sale
Looking to build on one of the most prolific seasons in men’s basketball history, as well as another solid run for the women’s program, the UNCP athletic department announced official season ticket information for both programs on Monday evening.

October 12, 2011
UNCP Hoops To Host "Moonlight Madness"
The UNCP men’s and women’s basketball squads will be hosting “Moonlight Madness” on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke. Festivities are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

September 29, 2011
Basketball Season Tickets Now On Sale
Athletic department officials at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced Thursday that season ticket sales, as well as ticket sales for the men’s basketball exhibition contest at North Carolina, have now begun.

September 15, 2011
Brackett Named To SportingNews Preseason All-America Squad
UNC Pembroke junior guard Shahmel Brackett has been named to the 2011-12 Sporting News NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Preseason All-America list as an honorable mention, the publication announced recently.