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Spencer levi 030622
79
Winner Belmont Abbey BAC 22-9,17-7 Conference Carolinas
73
UNC Pembroke UNCP 26-3,22-2 Conference Carolinas
Winner
Belmont Abbey BAC
22-9,17-7 Conference Carolinas
79
Final
73
UNC Pembroke UNCP
26-3,22-2 Conference Carolinas
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Belmont Abbey BAC 37 42 79
UNC Pembroke UNCP 36 37 73

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Todd Anderson, Associate AD/Strategic Initiatives

No. 8 Men’s Basketball Falls In Tournament Championship Game

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Third-seeded Belmont Abbey registered a 28-for-34 performance from the free throw line, including a 19-for-21 clip in the second half alone, to key a 79-73 victory over the top-seeded UNC Pembroke men's basketball team in the Conference Carolinas Tournament championship game on Sunday.
 
The setback snapped a six-game win streak for the Braves (26-3) who are still expected to attain at at-large berth into the NCAA postseason when selections are announced at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. It is the second-straight Conference Carolinas Tournament crown for the Crusaders (22-9) who have appeared in the last five tournament championship bouts.
 
THE BASICS
SCORE: Belmont Abbey 79, UNC Pembroke 73
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke 26-3; Belmont Abbey 22-9
LOCATION: Spartanburg, S.C. (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium)
HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
The Braves converted on more than 48 percent of their field goal attempts in the opening stanza, but were unable to gain any kind of significant separation from the Crusaders. The Black & Gold tacked up its largest lead of the afternoon, 36-31, on Spencer Levi's layup with 2:05 left before the break, but Belmont Abbey closed the half with six-straight points to take the lead into the locker rooms.
2ND HALF
Free throw shooting continued to be the saving grace for the Crusaders in the second period. UNCP appeared to be in control of the outcome after Jordan Ratliffe gave the Black & Gold a 66-61 advantage with 5-1/2 minutes left to play, but Belmont Abbey scored the next nine points to go out in front for good. UNCP cut it to a one-possession lead on Ratliffe's 3-pointer with 69 seconds remaining, but the Crusaders canned a layup on the other end of the court and went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the final.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
+ Spencer Levi notched his 12th double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. He matched a career high with five blocks as well.
+ Freshman Javonte Waverly chipped in 13 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes of action. Waverly shot 50 percent (6-for-12) from the field as well.
+ Redshirt junior Jordan Ratliffe tallied 10 points and seven rebounds, while also contributing a pair of steals.
NOTABLES
+ The Braves fell to 9-3 in conference tournaments since the close of the 2015-16 season, and are now 7-5 in conference tournament championship games. That clip includes nine appearance in the Carolinas Conference/Conference Carolinas championship game.
+ UNCP won the rebounding battle for the 28th time this season, out-doing the Crusaders on the boards by a slight 44-43 disparity.
UP NEXT
The Braves are expected to receive one of the five at-large berths into the NCAA Southeast Regional when the entire tournament field is announced later Sunday. The NCAA Division II Tournament Selection Show will air on NCAA.com at 10:30 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
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BACK THE BRAVES
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.
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