GREENWOOD, S.C. – Home-standing Lander trailed by as many as 10 points late in the first half, but shot better than 54 percent from the field in the second stanza and took the lead for good on T.J. Knight's fastbreak layup with 11-1/2 minutes left as the Bearcats upset the 18^th-ranked UNC Pembroke men's basketball team, 88-80, on Wednesday evening at Horne Arena.
 
The setback snapped a seven-game series win streak for the Braves (16-4, 11-3 PBC) who had their two-game road win streak stopped with the result as well. It was the first victory for the Bearcats (8-13, 7-8) in the series since edging the Braves, 62-59, on Dec. 5, 2015 in Pembroke.
 

THE BASICS

SCORE: Lander 88, No. 18 UNC Pembroke 80 RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 16-4, 11-3 PBC; Lander 8-13, 7-8 PBC LOCATION: Greenwood, S.C. (Finis Horne Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST HALF

The Braves scored 21 points off of 13 turnovers by Lander in the first half alone, and used a 13-of-19 success rate from the charity stripe to keep control for much of the final 18 minutes of the stanza. UNCP took its first lead at the 17:58 mark on a layup by James Murray-Boyles, but used a 13-4 run later in the half to eventually go out in front by nine points, 31-22, on David Strother's layup with eight minutes left before intermission. Cam Hamilton pushed UNCP's lead out to double digits, 46-36, with 14 seconds left, but Justin Holliday converted on a buzzer-beating jumper to make it a 46-38 contest heading into the locker rooms.

2ND HALF

Akia Pruitt's jumper at the 17:11 gave the Braves a 50-44 advantage on the scoreboard, but UNCP converted on just two of their next 17 attempts from the field amid a cold-shooting spell that spanned almost 10 minutes and allowed the momentum to swing heavily to the other side of the court. The hosts, in turn, shot 12-for-22 (.545) from the field over that same span and eventually took a nine-point lead, 70-61, on Deshundre Rucker's running layup with 7-1/2 minutes remaining. The Braves made it a two-possession game, 84-80, on James Murray Boyle's layup with 29 seconds left, but missed their final two attempts from the field to seal the outcome.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Junior Akia Pruitt notched his 17th career double-double – his third in the last five games – with game-highs in both points (20) and rebounds (11). + Senior James Murray-Boyles scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half. + Sophomore David Strother finished the night with 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. + Freshman Cam Hamilton came off the bench to score 10 points in just four minutes on the court.

NOTABLES

+ Wednesday's setback was UNCP's first loss in the series with Lander since falling 63-60 to the Bearcats at home on Dec. 5, 2015. + The setback to the Bearcats snapped a three-game win streak for the Braves, but also put an end to a two-game road win streak for the club as well. + The Black & Gold did not lose any ground in the league standings on Wednesday after PBC-leading USC Aiken fell to Francis Marion at home. UNCP now shares second place in the standings with the Patriots, as well as Augusta who came back to beat Flagler on the road.

UP NEXT

The Braves will open up a two-game home stand on Saturday when they face Georgia College (12-8, 7-7 PBC) in the back half of a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. The Bobcats handed UNCP a 75-68 defeat earlier this season in Milledgeville, Ga.

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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.