PEMBROKE – Both the UNC Pembroke men's and women's basketball teams will carry win streaks back into Pembroke this weekend when the Braves suit up to take on Clayton State in a pair of pivotal Peach Belt Conference matchups at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. The women's game is scheduled to tip off at 1:30 p.m., with the men following with an approximate 3:30 p.m. start.
 
Admission prices are $8 for adults, and $5 for children 17 years of age and under. Students, as well as UNCP faculty and staff, are admitted free with a valid Braves Card.
 
UNCP, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the American Cancer Society, will kick off Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week against the Lakers. Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week is a nationwide event when basketball coaches across the country unite for a common cause – saving lives from cancer! Coaches and their staff across the nation wear sneakers with their suits during games to raise awareness and help save lives from cancer by raising funds and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening, and early detection.
 
Fans unable to make the trip to Pembroke can follow the game for free via a live video stream on the UNCP Sports Network with Matt Sabados and Trevor Williams handling the play-by-play duties. The game can also be followed via a live statistics link provided by UNCP.

 

UNC Pembroke Women (6-8, 4-6 PBC) vs. Clayton State (7-8, 4-5 PBC)
Date & Tip Time	Saturday, January 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Location	Pembroke, N.C. | Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court
Live Statistics	Stat Broadcast
Video	UNCP Sports Network
Peach Belt Conference	Women's Basketball

WOMEN'S NOTES

• The Lady Braves (6-8, 4-6 PBC) led for the final 37:29 after taking a 5-3 lead early in the first quarter to power past host USC Aiken 60-54 on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center. UNCP outrebounded the Pacers 49-24 and the 15-board margin was the second highest of the season for the Black & Gold.
• UNCP has now won three of its last four games overall and two-straight away from home after starting the season 0-6 in road games. After averaging 53.5 points per game through their first six road contests, the Braves have upped that number to 66.5 in the last two road tilts.
• The Black & Gold returns home for the first time since a 61-59 win over Augusta on Jan. 10. UNCP is 4-2 within the confines of Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court this season and averages over 72 points per game at home. The Braves start and finish well at home having outscored opponents by a combined 24 points in the first and fourth quarters this season in Pembroke.
• The Braves have now scored at least 60 points in four of their last five games (3-2) after meeting that standard in just two of their previous seven outings (1-6). UNCP is 6-3 when scoring at least 60 points this season and 0-5 when scoring 59 points or less.
• UNCP ranks in the top third of the PBC in 3-pointers made and attempted per game, free throw percentage, offensive rebounds per game, fewest turnovers and steals per game.
• Senior Nyla Allen leads all Braves with 13.3 points per game, which ranks 10th in the league. She has logged 10-straight double-digit scoring performances and scored at least 10 points in 11 of the 14 games this season.
• UNCP and Clayton State have met five 26 times in series history dating back to the first meeting in 1998. The Lakers lead the all-time series 17-9, but the sides have split the last four meetings. Clayton State won nine-straight meetings from 2007-14 and have won nine of the 14 all-time meetings in Pembroke.

ABOUT CLAYTON STATE

• The Lakers (7-8, 4-5 PBC) had their Wednesday game against North Georgia postponed due to inclement weather, but dropped their Monday contest against Lander by an 83-56 score. After starting the season 3-2 in PBC play, Clayton State is just 1-3 in its last four league games.
• Clayton State has just two wins away from home this season (2-5) and have lost three-straight on the road dating back to Dec. 19. The lone PBC road victory for the Lakers came Dec. 16 in a 74-53 win over USC Aiken.
• The Lakers rank among the league's top four teams in five statistical categories and average a PBC-best 14.2 steals per game thanks to a defense that employs a full-court press for the majority of games. 
• After averaging 71.8 points per game in five games in December, the Lakers are scoring just 62.6 points per outing in five January games. Clayton State is also averaging almost six less points per game on the road than at home.
• Two Lakers average double-digit points per game, led by 11.4 from Abreyln Rackley, who also boasts a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game. Rackley has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in two of her last three games and notched a double-double (21 points, 11 rebounds) in a 69-67 setback to Georgia College on Jan. 10. Aysia Grimsley tacks on 10.1 points per game and has attempted a team-high 65 3-pointers this season.

 

UNC Pembroke Men (13-3, 9-1 PBC) vs. Clayton State (9-4, 7-2 PBC)
Date & Tip Time	Saturday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Location	Pembroke, N.C. | Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court
Live Statistics	Stat Broadcast
Video	UNCP Sports Network
Peach Belt Conference	Men's Basketball

 
 
MEN'S NOTES

• The Braves (13-3, 9-1 PBC) padded their win streak out to eight games with a 93-87 victory at USC Aiken on Wednesday. UNCP registered its most first-half points (56) in nearly two seasons, but then held off a late charge by the Pacers thanks to a 9-for-10 success rate from the free throw line in the game's final 44 seconds.
• The Black & Gold has captured 23 of its last 27 games dating back to last season, and has put together 8- and 10-game win streaks over that span as well. That stretch includes 12-straight wins against Peach Belt Conference opponents away from Pembroke, including an 11-game win streak in true road games against league competition.
• UNCP has captured 11 of its last 12 home games heading into Saturday's contest with the Lakers. The Braves are 43-10 (.811) on Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court over the last four seasons, including a 27-9 (.750) clip against teams from the Peach Belt Conference. However, that span includes the 2015-16 campaign that saw UNCP register an 8-5 mark at home, including a 6-4 mark against league opponents.
• The Black & Gold has averaged nearly 80 points per game in its previous eight home games heading into the weekend, but have held opponents to just 38.5 percent shooting and 70.2 points per game in those games as well. The defensive prowess at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court this season in further evidenced with UNCP putting up 8.9 steals and 8.0 blocks per home outing as well.
• The Braves have certainly had success on the defensive side of the ball in 2017-18. Despite carrying the league's fifth-best scoring offense, UNCP also showcases the league's best field goal percentage defense (39.9 percent) and has held its first 15 opponents to just 72.4 points per game (2^nd PBC). UNCP has also turned in 6.1 blocks (1^st PBC) and 8.1 steals (2^nd PBC) in 2017-18 as well.
• In the midst of his 10th season at the helm of the Black & Gold in 2017-18, Ben Miller needs just five more wins to match former Pembroke State legend Lacey Gane (169-108 from 1965-75) atop the program's all-time wins list. Miller has led the Braves to a 164-118 (.582) record in 9+ seasons as head coach.
• UNCP is just 6-21 against Clayton State in a series that dates back to the 1997-98 campaign. The Lakers have captured three of the last four matchups against the Braves, but UNCP snapped a three-game series losing streak with a win over Clayton State last season. The Black & Gold is 5-9 at home against the Lakers, but has split the last four contests with CSU at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
  
  ABOUT CLAYTON STATE
• Clayton State (9-4, 7-2 PBC) has won five of its last six matchups heading into the weekend, but has not seen action on the hardwood since Monday thanks to a winter storm that forced the postponement of their regularly-scheduled home matchup with North Georgia on Wednesday. The Lakers registered a 21-point home win over Lander on Monday.
• The Lakers rank among the top three teams in the Peach Belt Conference in eight statistical categories, but are the PBC leaders in both 3-point field goal percentage (40.9) and assists per game (15.5). Clayton State has connected on 47 percent or better from the perimeter in four of its last five outings, including a 12-for-24 clip in a 24-point win at Georgia College last Wednesday. The Lakers have logged 15 or more assists in eight contests this season.
• Senior Denzel Council has registered a team-best 13.8 points per game this season and leads a quartet of Lakers with double-figure scoring averages. Juniors Aubrey McRae (45.1 percent) and Justin Tuckson (46.9) are the top perimeter threats for Clayton State, while Jaylen Taylor is the top inside threat as evidenced by 12.2 points and a team-best 8.7 rebounds per game this season.