PEMBROKE – 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 Peach Belt Conference East Division with a 78-69 win over the 19th-ranked Pacers on Wednesday evening in the English E. Jones Center.

The triumph marked the 10th win in the last 12 outings for UNCP (12-5, 6-1 PBC) who also registered its eighth home win of the season, its most since the 1999-00 squad rattled off a 9-4 clip in Pembroke. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for USC Aiken (12-3, 6-1) who has now lost three of the last four series matchups with the Black & Gold.

Marcus Heath complemented a career-high 23 points with seven rebounds, six assists and one steal to pace a trio of Braves with double-figure scoring nights. K.J. Cooper added 15 points on 50 percent (5-of-10) shooting from the field, while junior Shahmel Brackett chipped in 11 despite playing just 19 minutes. George Blakeney grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds for the Braves as well.

Ronald Zimmerman came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points for the Pacers, while Re'mon Nelson and Sterling Council registered 13 points apiece. Joel Gierbeolini came off the bench to grab a game-high 12 rebounds for USC Aiken as well.

"I am worn out, and I am sure the players are too," said UNCP head coach Ben Miller. "I thought it was a good effort by both teams. The defense was very strong and the baskets were tough to come by. We just kept grinding and got a big win. I think both teams were motivated to play this game and I think both teams really respect each other. It was a great college basketball atmosphere tonight because it is that kind of rivalry."

USC Aiken took what would be its final lead of the contest on Council's lay-in with 17:37 left in the second half, but UNCP answered with an 11-1 run over the next four minutes to grab a nine-point lead, 42-33, on Cooper's trey at the 13:44 mark.  The Pacers whittled their deficit down to just six, 53-47, with 6:24 left to play, but the Braves answered again, this time scoring the next five points to take its largest lead of the contest, 58-47, on Griffin Pittman's lay-in with just more than five minutes left.

USC Aiken climbed to within three points, 72-69, with 28 seconds left, but UNCP connected on 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the deal.

The first half saw four tie scores and six lead changes with neither team able to gain more than a four-point edge. Council's 3-pointer with 6:47 left before the break gave the visitors a 19-15 advantage, but UNCP inevitably would take a 29-27 lead into the locker rooms.

The Braves will be back in action again on Sunday when they suit up to battle PBC West rival Georgia College (8-7, 1-5) in the back half of a 1:30 p.m. basketball doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.

To watch the full game click PART 1 or PART 2.