GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Kyle Dickey's 27-yard touchdown pass to Deon Hicks on a 4th-and-12 situation in the first overtime period lifted the Tusculum football team to a 20-17 victory over visiting UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field in northwest Tennessee.

The setback marked the sixth-straight loss for the Braves (1-7) who have now dropped three games this season by six points or less. It was the third win in the last four outings for the Pioneers (4-5) who had dropped all three previous meetings with the Braves heading into the weekend.

UNCP amassed a season-best 191 rushing yards on the day – its best ground performance since accumulating 228 in a win over Wingate on Sept. 28, 2013. The Black & Gold rallied back from a 14-7 halftime deficit to take the lead on a 48-yard field goal by Connor Haskins in overtime, but could not stop the desperation pass from the hosts.

"Today was the one that wasn't meant to be. Our guys deserved a better result today considering the effort, toughness and desire that they put into the game," said UNCP head coach Shane Richardson. "We talked after the game about how one play doesn't lose a game. It takes an entire team effort, and execution for four quarters determines the outcome.

"Tusculum made a great throw and catch at the end there. I'll take Code Black in a 4th-and-12 situation with the game on the line every time. We win that situation nine times out of 10."

Tamari White carried the ball 13 times for a team-best 61 yards and a fourth quarter score, while freshman Seth Owen ran for a score as well while turning in 55 rushing yards (11 attempts). Andrew Goodman saw most of the action under center in the second half and finishing his day with 45 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Dickey threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-18 passing with a pair of interceptions, while also carrying the ball 17 times for 41 yards and an additional score. D.J. Haney rushed 23 times for 110 yards for the Pioneers as well.

UNCP's Code Black defense registered a pair of interceptions and limited the Pioneers to just 73 yards of offense in the second half. Darcus Elliott, Brandon Fulton and Blake Hickman each put up a team-best nine tackles, while Mat Turner recorded a pair of sacks.

After failing to come away with points on its first three possessions, a turnover would set the hosts up for a 5-play, 46-yard scoring drive that was capped on Dickey's 3-yard plunge with 1:05 left in the first period. The Braves would answer two drives later, however, as Owen drove the visitors 56 yards on seven plays before scampering six yards for the game-tying score early in the second quarter.

Dickey's 21-yard touchdown pass to Wesley Powell in the waning minutes of the opening half would allow the hosts to take a 14-7 edge into the locker rooms.

A third quarter that saw the Pioneers run just nine plays (three possessions) for 24 yards was enough to slide the momentum over to the other sideline as UNCP drove 45 yards on 11 plays with its opening possession of the fourth quarter and knotted the game back up on a 6-yard scoring jaunt by White.

The Braves took their first lead of the contest on Haskins' field goal in overtime and Turner took the Pioneers out of field goal range with an 8-yard sack on 3rd-and-4 just minutes later.

UNCP will close the lid on the home portion of its 2014 regular season schedule on November 8 when it hosts Valdosta State (6-2) at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff for the Military Appreciation game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be preceded by a ceremony to honor UNCP's senior class.