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SALISBURY – Freshman Brandon Watts poured in a game-best 37 points on 11-of-16 shooting to lead a torrid second-half effort for the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team as the Braves completed a perfect 2-0 run through the SAC/PBC Challenge with an 82-75 victory over Catawba on Saturday evening.

The win kept UNCP perfect through two games for the second-straight year – a feat that has been accomplished just twice since the end of the 1999-2000 campaign. Catawba (1-1) finished the weekend with a two-game split after upending Francis Marion on Friday evening in Goodman Gym.

Watts complemented his offensive production with six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. He was joined in double-figure scoring by Keysheen Hinton who finished one board shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

K.J. Arrington scored a team-best 21 points for the Indians who also got 18 points from Rakeen Brown and 17 from Jerrin Morrison.

Brown's 3-pointer with 11:53 left to play gave Catawba a 54-53 edge, but a jumper by Watts on the ensuing possession sparked the Braves on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes. The Indians retook the lead, 63-61, on a 3-pointer by Morrison at the 5:26 mark, but the Braves responded with a 10-3 surge that gave them the lead for good. The Black & Gold canned all eight of its free throw attempts in the final minute to seal the outcome.

Catawba shot better than 48 percent from the field and had the advantage for all but 90 seconds of the opening half. The Indians pushed their lead out to as much as seven points, 34-27, after Morrison's trey at the 1:45 mark, but UNCP outscored the hosts 7-2 in the final minute to pull to make it a one possession game at the half.

The Braves will make their official home debut on Friday and Saturday when they suit up to host the round robin-style McDonald's Classic in the English E. Jones Center. Georgia Southwestern will battle Southern Wesleyan in the opener of the event on Friday at 4 p.m., with the Braves scheduled to take on Fayetteville State in the nightcap at 6 p.m.

Saturday's action feature Georgia Southwestern against Fayetteville State at 3 p.m. The Braves will play Southern Wesleyan in a 5 p.m. tilt.

Reserved chairback seating season ticket packages for UNCP's 16-date home schedule can be purchased for $70, while reserved courtside seats can be purchased for $200 at the Givens Performing Arts Center Box Office, as well as online at UNCPBraves.com/Tickets.

Single game general admission tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children 18 years of age and younger. UNCP students, as well as UNCP faculty and staff, are admitted free with a valid Braves Card. Single game tickets can be purchased online as well at UNCPBraves.com/Tickets.