PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke wrestling team faced a 19-14 deficit with two matches remaining, but wins from Nigel Williams and Massimo Sullivan secured the narrow 21-19 victory for the Braves in Conference Carolinas wrestling action Wednesday night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

The Braves (2-0, 2-0 CC) improved to 9-1 in the all-time series with the Tornado (0-1, 0-1 CC).
 
Bryson Harper got the Braves on the board first with a decision victory at 125 pounds, before King would take the 133 and 141 pound bouts. Ninth-ranked Jake Piccirilli cut into the King lead with a dominating 21-3 tech. fall win at 149 pounds, while King answered with a decision win at 157 pounds to stretch the lead once again. Will Lowery's reverse pin in the 165-pound match gave the lead back to the Braves, while a King win at 174 pounds saw the lead change once more. A Tornado win by decision at 184 pounds took the King lead to 19-14, before Williams kept the Black & Gold alive with a victory at 197 pounds. Sullivan would then clinch the UNCP win in the heavyweight bout with a convincing major decision victory.

The Braves will be back in action Saturday, as they hit the road to West Virginia to take on Bluefield State in another Conference Carolinas dual match. Wrestling action is slated to begin at 2 p.m.