CHARLOTTE – The UNC Pembroke men's basketball team rallied all the way back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to even the score up with just more than a minute to play, but seventh-ranked Queens got a jumper from Daniel Carr with 38 seconds left and held its breath as two late field goal attempts by the visitors fell short on the way to an 80-78 victory over the Braves on Sunday.
The setback marked the first of the season for UNCP (4-1) who will head to Wingate on Tuesday for a rivalry matchup with the Bulldogs. Queens (4-0) has now won its last three outings by a combined 14 points.
| THE BASICS |
SCORE: #7 Queens 80, UNC Pembroke 78
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (4-1); #7 Queens (4-0)
LOCATION: Charlotte, N.C. (Levine Center – Queens Tournament) |
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| HOW IT HAPPENED |
| 1ST HALF |
| Queens shot nearly 70 percent from the field in the opening half and led by as many as 15 points, 37-22, after a pair of free throws from Jermaine Patterson with 6:16 left before the break. The Royals whiffed on their first field goal attempt of the day, but connected on 14 of their next 15 field goal attempts and held a double-digit lead at the midway point of the opening stanza. The hosts eventually carried a 45-34 lead into the locker rooms. |
| 2ND HALF |
| The Royals led by a dozen points, 61-49 after a 3-pointer from Van Turner at the 12:05 mark, but Tyrell Kirk's running jumper on the other end of the court sparked the Black & Gold on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes that made it a one-point game, 66-65, with 7-1/2 minutes left to play. Daniel Carr broke a 78-all tie on a layup with 38 seconds left, but UNCP missed its last two attempts from the field, including a 3-pointer from David Strother with two ticks remaining. |
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| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
+ Junior David Strother scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-12 field goal shooting, while also turning in seven rebounds and three assists.
+ Senior Akia Pruitt (5-for-10 shooting) and junior Tyrell Kirk (6-for-12) tallied 13 points apiece. Pruitt complemented his offensive performance with six rebounds, four blocks and three assists. Kirk added three assists as well. |
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| NOTABLES |
+ The Braves have dropped the last five series matchups with Queens, four of which have taken place in the Levine Center. UNCP still leads the all-time series, 7-6, but is 1-6 against the Royals since joining the NCAA Division II ranks.
+ UNCP has been out-rebounded in three of its five outings this season, including being on the wrong end of a 33-31 rebound disparity on Sunday. UNCP is still +4.0 in the rebounding column overall. |
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| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will continue their season-opening six-game stretch away from home on Wednesday when they make the short trip of U.S. 74 to take on Wingate (4-0). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. |
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| STAY CONNECTED |
| Follow UNCP Men's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" UNCP Men's Basketball on Facebook. |
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| 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. |
