PEMBROKE – Despite 80.0 percent shooting from the free throw line and a 40-to-34 rebounding advantage, the UNCP men's basketball team didn't start off 2011 as they had intended after falling to the visiting Francis Marion Patriots by an 86-82 final on Sunday afternoon at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke.

The Braves (8-3, 1-2 PBC) were not overwhelmed in any one facet of the game, but shot 8 percent less from the floor as a squad and committed five additional turnovers, which proved to be the difference in the matchup.

UNCP kept its rebounding streak alive with a 40-to-34 advantage, and have now out-rebounded their opposition in all 11 games this season. The Braves also finished a stunning 24-of-30 from the free throw line (80.0 percent) and made an identical eight 3-point baskets on one less attempt than the Patriots (7-2, 1-1 PBC).

The two teams battled out to a 20-20 tie score at the 11:25 mark of the first half and fought neck-and-neck throughout the entire first half before the Patriots opened a 10-point lead with 1:50 to go in the first half, and settled for an eight-point lead, 50-42, at halftime.

The Braves came out and battled back to take their first lead of the second half with 11:22 showing on the clock behind a layup by sophomore K.J. Cooper, putting the Braves up 61-60. The two teams continued to battle out to an 81-79 advantage in favor of FMU, and the Braves would get no closer in falling to the visitors by an 86-82 final.

Senior Chris Hargrove scored a game-high 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor to finish one off his UNCP career high he set last year against Augusta State on Feb. 8. Hargrove finished 4-of-6 from long range and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line while adding four rebounds in 28 minutes of action.

Sophomore Shahmel Brackett followed Hargrove on the stat sheet with a 5-of-11, 15-point performance that included seven rebounds and a 3-of-6 mark from long range. Fellow sophomore George Blakeney added 12 points on 2-of-10 shooting, but finished 8-of-9 from the free throw line while adding three assists, two blocks and a steal in 25 minutes of action.

Sophomore K.J. Cooper finished with a game-high 13 rebounds and added nine points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field.

The Braves will look to capture their first win of 2011 on Wednesday when they travel to Aiken, S.C. to battle with the #13 USC Aiken Pacers at the Convocation Center at 7:30 p.m.