PEMBROKE – 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 in the English E. Jones Center.

The triumph helped UNCP (10-4, 4-0 PBC) win for the eighth time in its last nine outings, as well as snap a five-game series losing streak. Clayton State (8-4, 1-3) has now dropped three of its last four outings since starting the season 7-1.

Shahmel Brackett scored 12 of his team-high 17 points in the first half to pace a trio of Braves with double-figure scoring nights. George Blakeney connected on all 11 of his free throw attempts en route to 15 points, while K.J. Cooper came off the bench to score 14 points, including a 6-for-6 mark from the charity stripe. Hawaii transfer Anthony Salter scored a game-high 26 points for the Lakers, who also got a dozen from Bradley Tumer.

"(Clayton State) has a good program with really good players, so I feel really good about the win," said UNCP head coach Ben Miller. "Our guys did some nice things tonight. You have to find different ways to win sometimes, and it was good to see our guys to step up and gut one out."

The Braves maintained its eight-point halftime lead for much of the opening eight minutes of the second period, but Clayton State steadily chipped away at its deficit, tying the game for just the second time on a lay-in by Reco Lewis at the 9:52 mark, and then taking the lead on Oregon transfer Teondre Williams' 3-pointer two minutes later. The Black & Gold would prove to be too much down the stretch, however, and took a 70-65 lead on a pair of Brackett free throws with 3:33 left to play.

Clayton State climbed to within four points, 74-70, with 51 ticks left, used a circus-like jumper from Marcus Heath with 20 seconds left, as well as a pair of free throws from Miguel Starkey with nine seconds remaining, to seal the deal.

The Lakers led by as much as 11 points, 17-6, just less than seven minutes into the contest, but the Braves scored 15 of the game's next 18 points to take a 21-20 lead on Brackett's 3-pointer with 7:04 left before intermission. The eventual 27-8 run that spanned nearly 11 minutes in the opening stanza would ultimately give the Black & Gold a 39-31 edge heading into the locker rooms.

UNCP will be back in action again on Saturday when the Braves suit up to host PBC West-leading Montevallo (11-2, 2-0) in the back half of a women's and men's doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center. The Lady Braves will open the twinbill with a 1:30 contest against the Lady Falcons.

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