MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico – Brandon Winford, Quamain Rose, Jihad Wright and Ben Jacobs each logged double-doubles in the opening contest of the 2013-14 year to assist the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team to an 82-78 win over Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in the first day of the Mayaguez Basketball Classic on Thursday.

Winford collected a team-best 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field, while Alex Bradley and Rose knocked in 12 points, Wright had 11 and Jacobs added 10. UPR-Rio Piedras was led by Hector Maldonado with a game-high 30 points as he was 13-for-28 from the field, while Bryan Martinez registered 20 points with five 3-pointers and Enrique Trenche put up 10 points to help the team to shoot 44.9 percent from the field.

The Black & Gold shot better than 43 percent from the field and out-rebounded its opponent by a +35 margin (61-26).

Each player with a double-double notched 10 rebounds, with Rose and Bradley claiming five assists each and Griffin Pittman capturing five steals as well. UNCP held UPR-Rio Piedras to just 26 rebounds as the Braves claimed 24 points off second-chance shots and 30 points from players coming off the bench.

"It was a great experience for our guys with the long day of travel yesterday and the challenges that go with games like this," said UNCP head coach Ben Miller. "I give the other team a lot of credit because they are scrappy, aggressive on defense and energized. Our guys had to fight to hold off the defensive pressure and we handled it with balanced scoring and being calm while under the full court press. It was a great first test for our guys and I'm glad we could have this experience."

The Braves controlled a 39-35 lead at the half despite a late 7-2 run by UPR-Rio Piedras, but UNCP controlled the lead for the remainder of the game including a 9-5 run in the final minute of the game. The Black and Gold held an 11-point lead with 6:53 left to play in the game and finished with the four-point victory.

The Braves will be back in action on Friday when the squad takes on tournament host Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in a 6:30 p.m. contest in the Rafael A. Mangual Colosseum on the second day of competition at the Mayaguez Basketball Classic