ANAHEIM, Calif. – UNCP shot better than 47 percent from the field, including a 71 percent effort from the perimeter, en route to a 73-58 win over Northern State in the season opener for both teams on Friday morning at the Disney West Coast Tip Off Classic in Anaheim Arena.

The triumph marked the sixth win in the last eight season-opening contests for UNCP (1-0) who improved to 4-1 in such games under head coach Ben Miller. The setback snapped an 11-game winning streak in season openers for Northern State (0-1) who dropped an 89-82 decision to Grand Valley State to begin the 2000-01 campaign.

The Braves got double-figure scoring games from four different players, including 40 points from their starting front court. Senior Shahmel Brackett registered 17 points, K.J. Cooper chipped in 13 and redshirt freshman Quamain Rose put up 10 points, four assists and three rebounds. Fellow newcomer Brandon Winford added 12 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists in his collegiate debut. George Blakeney turned in a game-best 10 rebounds for the Black & Gold as well.

Mack Arvidson came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Northern State, while Collin Pryor added 12 more for the Wolves as well.

"We played hard in spurts today, we just have to get to the point where we are maintaining those spurts a little better," Miller said. "Overall, though, I thought it was a pretty good effort by our guys. George (Blakeney) was able to rebound the ball well today and our other seniors, K.J. (Cooper) and Shahmel (Brackett) did some good things as well.

"We were a little careless at times today and we need to work on that. Our execution is going to get tested in these next two games (against Southwest Minnesota State, Winona State)."

The Black & Gold padded a 31-17 halftime lead out to a 19-point cushion just less than four minutes into the second half, but Northern State cut the deficit back to just 13 points, 53-40, midway through the period. That would be the closest the Wolves would get, however, as the Braves pushed their lead out to as much as 20 points, 71-51, on a pair of Winford free throws with 90 seconds left before calling off the dogs.

UNCP scored 11 of the game's first 13 points, but a mild scoring run over the next three minutes helped Northern State cut its deficit back to just three points, 11-8, on a jumper by Seth Bachand at the 10:27 mark. The Braves led by as much as 15 points, 30-15, with 2:03 left before the intermission, but inevitably took a 31-17 advantage into the locker rooms.

The Braves will continue play in the Disney West Coast Tip Off Classic on Saturday evening when they suit up to battle Southwest Minnesota State at 9:15 p.m. EST in the Anaheim Arena.