PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke men's basketball team shot better than 57 percent from the field and registered its most assists in more than six seasons to key a convincing 98-74 victory over visiting Clayton State on Thursday afternoon at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
The victory got the Braves (7-3, 1-1 PBC) on the board in Peach Belt Conference play, while also handing the Black & Gold its fourth-straight triumph in the series with Clayton State. It was the third-straight setback for the Lakers (2-6, 0-1) who have surrendered 92 or more points in four of their six losses this season.
| THE BASICS |
SCORE: UNC Pembroke 98, Clayton State 74
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (7-3, 1-1 PBC); Clayton State (2-6, 0-1 PBC)
LOCATION: Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court) |
|
| HOW IT HAPPENED |
| 1ST HALF |
| The Braves scored points on five-straight possessions beginning with Jordan Ratliffe's running jumper at the 14:06 mark and led by a baker's dozen, 26-13, following a 3-pointer from David Strother just more than 20-1/2 minutes later. The Lakers whittled their deficit back down to eight points with 6:43 left before the break, but the Black & Gold put together a 13-2 run over the next three minutes and eventually took a 51-30 advantage into the locker rooms. |
| 2ND HALF |
| UNCP shot a more human-like 41.1 (7-for-17) from the field in the first 10-1/2 minutes of the latter stanza, but still led by at least 20 points until a 10-2 run by the Lakers cut the deficit back to just 18 points, with 10:41 remaining. The hosts led by as many as 29 points, 96-67, after a pair of free throws from Akia Pruitt with two minutes left to play. UNCP would keep the rout intact by converting on nine of its final 12 attempts from the field over the last 8-1/2 minutes of regulation. |
|
| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
+ Junior Jordan Ratliffe scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while also adding four rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists.
+ Junior Spencer Levi came off of the bench to tally a season-best 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes of action.
+ Senior Akia Pruitt turned in a dozen points, but also produced seven rebounds, four blocks and a career-high nine assists.
+ David Strother added a dozen points, but complemented his scoring line with six rebounds, six assists and two steals. |
|
| NOTABLES |
+ UNCP tallied 29 assists on 36 made field goals on Thursday. It is the most assists for the Braves since they amassed 30 in a 100-87 home win over Belmont Abbey on Nov. 16, 2013.
+ The Braves have captured six of the last seven series matchups with Clayton State dating back to the 2016-17 campaign. That stretch includes four-straight wins for the Black & Gold at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
+ Senior Akia Pruitt's seven rebounds on Thursday moved him past former UNCP standout George Blakeney (2009-13) and USC Aiken standout Derek Moore (1995-99) for sixth place on the Peach Belt Conference's all-time rebounding list. Pruitt now has 845 career rebounds, and needs just 69 more boards this season to become the league's all-time leader in that category. |
|
| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will close out their season-long 5-game home stand on Saturday when they suit up to host PBC rival North Georgia (5-4, 0-1 PBC) in the back half of a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. |
|
| 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. |
