PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke men's basketball team shot better than 50 percent from the field, including a 54 percent effort in the first half, and used a key second half run to upset ninth-ranked Mount Olive, 86-74, on Monday evening in the English E. Jones Center.

The triumph marked the second time in two weeks that the Braves (8-1) have derailed a previously unbeaten squad, including a 79-69 victory over region rival Wingate on December 1. The setback was the first of the season for the Trojans (9-1) who lost for just the fourth time in the last 15 series meetings with the Braves.

UNCP has now captured 12 of their last 13 December home games. It was the first victory for the Braves over a nationally-ranked team since a 70-64 home victory over then-No. 12 Augusta State on Jan. 5, 2013

Quamain Rose complemented a game-best 22 points with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals to pace the Black & Gold who had three other players finish with double-figure scoring nights. Brandon Watts chipped in 17 points, while Brandon Winford posted a dozen points and nine rebounds. Keysheen Hinton came off the bench to tally 13 points for the hosts as well.

Jaquan Blount connected on 7-of-11 shots from the perimeter en route to a team-best 21 points for Mount Olive who also got 17 points off the bench from Jordan McCain.

"We have a lot of respect for (Mount Olive)," said UNCP head coach Ben Miller. "We feel really great about the win and we have a lot of guys that played really hard tonight. It was a great team effort."

Tyler Kordenbrock's tip-in with 14:12 left to play helped give UNCP a 59-52 cushion, but the Trojans pulled to within two points just more than six minutes later on a layup by Dontrell Brite. The Braves, however, would use a 12-4 run over the next four minutes to pull away for good. The Trojans, who had shot 50.2 percent from the field through their first nine games, drained just one of their final five field goal attempts to seal the outcome.

The Braves led for nearly 18 minutes in the first half, but Mount Olive stayed in the game thanks to deadly accuracy *8-for-14) from the perimeter. The hosts led by as much as six in the opening stanza before eventually lugging a 49-44 advantage into the intermission.

UNCP will continue a six-game home stand on Thursday when it steps back into Peach Belt Conference play against red-hot Columbus State (7-1, 1-0 PBC). Tipoff for the women's and men's basketball doubleheader is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and admission is just $1.