MOUNT OLIVE – The 21^st-ranked UNC Pembroke men's basketball team scored 50 points in the paint, including 28 on second-chance opportunities and the Braves got back on track with a convincing 105-57 victory over Mount Olive in the final game of the 53^rd Annual Pickle Classic on Saturday.
 
The triumph marked the 11^th victory in the last 13 road outings for UNCP (3-1) who wrapped up a season-opening four-game stretch away from home with the outcome as well. It was the second-straight loss for the Trojans (1-3) who have now dropped six of the last eight series matchups with the Black & Gold.
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: UNC Pembroke 105, Mount Olive 57 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 3-1; Mount Olive 1-3 LOCATION: Mount Olive, N.C. (Kornegay Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST HALF

Mount Olive took a 15-10 advantage on Michael Brown's 3-pointer five minutes into the opening period, but the Braves hung around for the next five minutes before a 3-pointer from David Strother sparked the visitors on a 15-2 that gave them a double-digit cushion that would not be relinquished. UNCP would eventually tote a 51-34 lead into the locker room following an old-fashioned 3-point play by James Murray-Boyles with 30 seconds left.

2ND HALF

The scored 21 points off of 16 turnovers by the Trojans in the second half, and led by 31 points, 77-46, by the midway point in the latter stanza. The Black & Gold led by as many as 48 points, 103-55, following a pair of free throws from newcomer Spencer Levi with just more than a minute left to play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Newcomer Spencer Levi came off the bench to score a game-best 23 points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes of playing time. + Senior James Murray-Boyles posted 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while also adding four rebounds and a pair of steals. + Carson Mounce came off the bench to tally 12 points and four rebounds, while Cam Hamilton registered 11 points, three steals and three assists in 15 minutes of work. + The Braves collected 28 points off of 23 turnovers by the Trojans, including 21 in the second half alone. + UNCP shot a season-best 92.6 percent (15-of-16) from the free throw line, including a 15-for-16 clip in the second half.

NOTABLES

+ UNCP's 47-point victory over the Trojans was its largest margin of victory since turning in a 106-59 victory over St. Andrews on Nov. 25, 2012. It is the largest margin of victory for either side in the series, topping Mount Olive's 44-point win (107-63) over the Braves on Nov. 24, 2003. + The Braves have now captured 11 of their last 13 road outings, as well as 15 of their last 21 away from Pembroke.

UP NEXT

UNCP will open up the home portion of its 2018-19 schedule on Tuesday when they welcome U.S. 74 rival Wingate (2-2) to Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow UNCP Men's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" UNCP Men's Basketball on Facebook.

JOIN THE BRAVES CLUB

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Men's Basketball program by joining the Braves Club. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu.