PEMBROKE, N.C. | Nigel Grant scored 22 points to lead the University of North Carolina at Pembroke men's basketball team to a 90-74 Peach Belt Conference victory over Young Harris College Saturday (Jan. 14) afternoon at the Jones P.E. Center.

The Braves improved to 12-4 overall and to 5-2 in the Peach Belt while the Mountain Lions saw their six-game winning streak snapped as they fell to 11-4 and 5-1. Young Harris makes a quick turnaround as they travel to Augusta, Georgia, Monday (Jan. 16) for a 3:30 p.m. contest against Augusta University.

The game was a tight one, especially for the first half. There were 16 lead changes and tied eight different times as the Braves, who outscored the Mountain Lions 34-10 in the paint over the opening 20 minutes, took a 44-41 lead into the locker room.

After Marcellus Roberts hit two free throws to tie the game for the final time at 47 with 16:59 to play, UNC Pembroke broke the game open with a 17-7 run that gave the Braves a 64-54 lead on a steal and three-pointer by Andrew Evans five minutes later. 

The closest the Mountain Lions would get would be six points (66-60) with 10:30 remaining after Ben Waterhouse and C.J. Wilson hit back-to-back three-pointers on successive trips down the floor. UNCP thwarted the comeback with a 9-1 run that pushed the lead back to 14 points (75-61) on a Carson Mounce layup with 7:17 to go. UNCP led by as many as 20 points (83-63) with just over three minutes to play.

UNCP held a 58-22 advantage on points in the paint as they outrebounded Young Harris 44-29, including a 20-7 margin on the offensive end. 

"We knew that was were the game was going to be decided," said Young Harris head coach Pete Herrmann. "We didn't do the job. They beat us up and we weren't competitive inside. They were the aggressors.

"We are going to be tested again Monday (at Augusta) and Wednesday (at Montevallo)," added Herrmann, "We will have to do a better job rebounding."

Wilson led Young Harris with 21 points and seven assists while Bjorn Walker and Waterhouse each scored 13 points. Walker also led the Mountain Lions with nine rebounds.  Corey Nelson and Roberts each contributed eight points with Roberts grabbing seven rebounds.

Evans finished with 13 points for the Braves wile Alex Bradley scored 11.