PEMBROKE – For the second-straight game, the UNCP men's basketball squad faced off against a Peach Belt Conference division leader and fell to the East Division leading and third-ranked Jaguars of Augusta State by a 54-72 final at the English E. Jones Center in Pembroke.

The Braves (11-5, 4-4 PBC) fell to the Jaguars for the 16th-straight time with the loss and have now lost back-to-back games for the first time all season. The Jaguars (16-1, 6-1 PBC) continued their dominance of the Peach Belt's East Division and moved two games up on the rest of the competition with the victory. The Braves fall to third behind Armstrong Atlantic (10-5, 4-3 PBC) in the East Division standings with the loss, and will travel to face the Pirates on Saturday afternoon in Savannah, Ga.

Although the Braves out-shot the Jaguars on average throughout the game, (44.4 percent to 40.0 percent) the Jaguars made 29-of-37 free throws on the night while the host Braves were limited to just a 9-of-13 effort from the line, both season low's for head coach Ben Miller's squad. UNCP was whistled for 27 fouls on the night, a season-high for the Braves, while the visitors were called for just 14 violations. UNCP was also out-rebounded for just the second time this season (33-28) after entering the matchup with the third-best rebounding margin in Division II.

Sophomore Shahmel Brackett led the squad with a 4-of-11 effort from the floor, including a 2-of-8 performance from long range. He added one assist and one block in 24 minutes on the court.

Senior Chris Hargrove was the only other member of the squad in double-figures for scoring with a 3-of-5 effort from the field and a 4-of-4 mark from the line, leaving him with 10 points on the evening. Junior Cody Hughes added eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a 2-of-4 mark from long range.

UNCP will look to move back up to second in their division on Saturday when they take on the Pirates at Alumni Arena in Savannah following the conclusion of the women's game.