Braves Send Pirates To Eighth Straight Loss, 75-60

PEMBROKE, N.C. - UNC Pembroke used a 17-4 early second-half run to pull away and pick up a 75-60 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over visiting Armstrong Atlantic State on Saturday afternoon in Pembroke, N.C.

The Braves (6-12, 2-7 PBC) halted a six-game losing streak with the victory, while handing the Pirates (5-12, 0-8 PBC) their eighth straight loss.

A nip-and-tuck first half saw the Braves take a 29-27 lead into the break with single free throws from Brandon Thomas and Nate Priest in the final one and a half minutes. UNC Pembroke shot 43 percent from the floor and made three of five three-pointers, but committed nine turnovers in the half.

Both teams stayed within one possession for the first three and a half minutes of the second half, but UNCP's Shahmel Brackett converted a three-point play with 16:33 remaining to spark the 17-4 run, capped off by a pair of free throws by George Blakeney with 10:16 left, making the score 57-41.

The Pirates cut the double-digit lead down to seven points, 58-51, on back-to-back Gabriel Robinson baskets with 7:13 left to go, but UNCP quickly reasserted control, scoring the next seven points over a four-minute span.

Blakeney led all players on the day for the Braves with 20 points and 12 rebounds, making 7-of-10 shots from the floor and 6-of-9 free throws. Brandon Thomas added 14 points, while K.J. Cooper chipped in 13 points and Nate Priest added 10.

Senior Patrick Shokpeka led the Pirates with 16 points on the day, while Gabriel Robinson added 12 points and Keron McKenzie chipped in 10.

AASU shot just 34.3 percent from the floor, while also making just 9-of-19 free throws (47.4 percent). UNC Pembroke finished the game shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 56 percent from three-point range, making 5-of-9 attempts.

The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday, January 27, with a 7:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest at Clayton State in Morrow, Ga.