PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke men's basketball team closed the first half with a 14-4 run that gave it the lead for good as the Braves picked up their first series home victory over Montevallo with an 80-71 victory over the Falcons on Saturday afternoon at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
The triumph gave the Braves (8-7, 2-4 PBC) their first home victory in the 10-game-old series with the Falcons, while also giving the Black & Gold consecutive wins for the first time in more than a month. It was the third-straight loss for Montevallo (7-6, 3-3) who had won seven of their last nine outings heading into the weekend.
Alex Bradley scored a career- and game-high 23 points thanks to an eye-popping 11-of-13 performance from the free throw line, while Brandon Winford turned in his 18th career double-double performance with 14 points and a season-best 13 boards. Brandon Watts added seven points and a trio of blocks for the Black & Gold as well.
Starters Terrell Lipkins and Bryant Orange tallied 16 points to lead the Falcons, who also got 13 points off the bench from Malik Fields.
Bradley gave the Braves a game-best 16-point lead, 54-38, on a 3-pointer with 9:58 to play, but the Falcons came storming back and pulled to within two possessions on a layup by Wilkins just more than two minutes later. Bradley's layup at the 3:01 mark pushed the lead back to a baker's dozen but the visitors, again, pulled to within four points following a 3-pointer by Tyler Brough with 69 ticks remaining.
Montevallo led by as much as five points in the opening half after a pair of free throws by Orange just more than eight minutes in, but UNCP steadily chipped away at its deficit and grabbed a 21-19 lead after three free throws by Bradley with 4:29 left before intermission. The free throws were part of a game-changing 14-4 run that allowed the hosts to lug a 29-23 lead into the locker rooms.
The Braves will continue a three-game home stand on Wednesday when they lock horns with PBC East rival Francis Marion (9-5, 2-4) in the second half of a 5:30 p.m. "Camo Night" doubleader at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
