PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke men's basketball team will return to action for the first time in nearly two weeks on Saturday when the Braves suit up to host Barton in a rematch on Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. and the first 150 fans through the gates will be presented with New Year's Eve paraphernalia.
Fans can follow the game for free via a live video stream on the UNCP Braves YouTube channel with
Cameron Songer handling the play-by-play duties. The game can also be followed via a live statistics link as well.
| UNC Pembroke (8-2) vs. Barton (7-3) |
| Date & Tip Time |
Saturday, December 31 at 2 p.m. EST |
| Location |
Pembroke, N.C.. | Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court |
| Live Statistics |
Stat Broadcast |
| Video |
YouTube |
- UNC Pembroke (8-2) will ride a three-game win streak into the weekend after a convincing 78-62 road victory over Georgia Southwestern on December 19. The Braves led by as much as 21 points midway through the second half, and withstood a furious late-game run by the Hurricanes en route to the triumph.
- Four players average 11.3 points per game or better for the Braves through eight games, while freshman Akia Pruitt is a gnat's eyelash from a double-digit scoring average with 9.9 points an outing, as well as a team-best 7.3 rebounds an outing. Fellow newcomer Nigel Grant paces the Black & Gold in scoring (14.3 points/game).
- UNCP has averaged 87.0 points in securing a perfect record through four home games so far this season, and has won seven-straight contests at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court dating back to last season.
- The Braves have posted a PBC-best 9.9 steals per game through 10 outings in 2016-17, and are one of just four teams in the league to register a rebounding margin of +5.0 or better. Both Alex Bradley (2.2 steals/game) and Brandon Watts (1.8) rank among the league's top 5 in steals per game.
- Barton (7-3) will roll into Pembroke boasting a five-game win streak, including an 83-82 home win over the Braves on December 10. The Bulldogs have played just one game since that triumph – a 68-56 victory at Elizabeth City State on December 19.
- Senior Daniel Westbrook leads Barton in both points (12.6) and rebounds (6.4) per game, while freshman Michael Boykin has managed an impressive 12.4 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals an outing so far in his young collegiate career. Only one player, sophomore Matt Woods, has started all 10 games for the Bulldogs. Former UNCP player, Tyler Thayer, is second on the team with 10 starts.
- UNCP leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs, 39-27. The clubs have met just nine times since the Braves joined NCAA Division II prior to the 1992-93 campaign, and UNCP has won five of those contests.
