PEMBROKE – Visiting Georgia College limited the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team to a 38.3 percent success rate from the field and turned 10 offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points to key a 67-64 victory over the Braves in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both teams on Sunday at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
The setback snapped a three-game win streak for the Braves (6-3, 0-1 PBC) in league openers, while also handing the Black & Gold its second loss in three home outings this year. The triumph gave the Bobcats (4-5, 1-0) consecutive victories for the first time this season, while also helping Georgia College snap a six-game skid in Pembroke.
| THE BASICS |
SCORE: Georgia College 67, UNC Pembroke 64
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (6-3, 0-1 PBC); Georgia College (4-5, 1-0 PBC)
LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court) |
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| HOW IT HAPPENED |
| 1ST HALF |
| The Braves shot just 32.3 percent (10-for-31) from the field in the opening half, but were still able to forge a five-point lead, 25-20, following a running jumper from David Strother with 5:09 left before the break. UNCP came away empty on four of its final five possessions of the first half, however, and the Bobcats used that lull to fuel a 9-2 run that gave them a 31-29 lead heading into the locker rooms. |
| 2ND HALF |
| The Bobcats converted on half of their first six attempts of the latter stanza and opened up an eight-point lead, 40-32, after a 3-pointer by A.J. James at the 15:47 mark. Tyrell Kirk's 3-pointer two minutes later sparked the hosts on a 10-2 run that eventually gave them a 47-46 lead with 12 minutes left. Wesley Simpson hit a jumper to give the visitors the lead for good with 61 seconds left, and then grabbed a key rebound on the other end of the court and turned it into a fastbreak bucket just two seconds later. |
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| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
+ Junior David Strother tallied a team-high 20 points for the second-straight game after an 8-for-10 performance from the field on Sunday. He also added three assists and a trio of steals.
+ Junior Tyrell Kirk (10 points) was the only other UNCP player to tally double-digit points on the day. Kirk finished with four rebounds and a pair of assists as well.
+ Senior Carson Mounce turned in a career-high four blocks, while also pulling down a team-best seven rebounds. |
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| NOTABLES |
+ Sunday's loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Braves in Peach Belt Conference openers. Ironically, UNCP's last loss in a PBC lid-lifter was a three-point home loss to Lander on Dec. 5, 2015.
+ The Braves matched a season-high with seven blocks on Sunday and have now registered at least five blocks in all nine games this season.
+ Sunday's win was just the third triumph for the Bobcats in the last seven matchups with the Black & Gold. It was Georgia College's first victory in Pembroke since a 64-60 triumph on Jan. 22, 2012. |
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| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will continue a season-long five game home stand on Thursday when they suit up to take on Clayton State (2-5, 0-0 PBC) in the front half of an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Education Day at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. It will be the first game for the Lakers since a 69-point loss at No. 2 Nova Southeastern on November 30. |
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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. |
