Photo Gallery

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The University of North Carolina at Pembroke men's basketball team used a late 19-4 run to rally for an 80-71 Peach Belt Conference victory over Young Harris College Saturday (Dec. 2) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Braves improved to 5-1 overall and to 1-0 in the league, while the Mountain Lions fell to 1-5 and 0-1. Young Harris will break for exams and will return to action Dec. 12 when they host Lander University in a 3:30 p.m. Peach Belt contest.

The Mountain Lions, who led the game for almost 21 minutes, took their final lead at 62-59 on an Antonio Wade layup with 8:14 remaining. The game was tied nine times and saw the teams exchange the lead eight times.

However, that would be their last basket for the next six minutes and 33 seconds. The Braves, who shot 62.1 percent (18-of-29) in the second half, tied the game at 62 nine seconds later on a David Strother three-pointer. That started a 19-4 run that saw UNC Pembroke open up a 78-66 lead after a dunk by Akia Pruit with 65 seconds left.

"Our defense was a step slow in the second half," said YHC head coach Pete Herrmann. "It was very poor the last 10 minutes and that led to our offensive frustrations. We lost our composure offensively and took quick and off-balanced shots."

Young Harris had taken control of the game in the latter stages of the first half, taking a 43-34 lead at the intermission after ending the opening 20 minutes on a 17-8 run. Ben Waterhouse had five points for the Mountain Lions during the run, while Nicksen Blanc and Wade had four points apiece.

The Braves used a 16-7 run over the first five minutes of the second half to get back into the game as they tied it at 50 on a three-pointer by Pruitt with 14:58 remaining. 

Nigel Grant led UNC Pembroke, who shot 56.1 percent (32-of-57) from the floor, with 22 points, while Brandon Watts added 19 points and six rebounds. Pruitt tallied 12 points and eight rebounds for the Braves, who held a 38-26 advantage on the glass.

Waterhouse scored 18 of his team-high 20 points in the first half for the Mountain Lions, while Blanc finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. J.B. Charles also finished in double figures with 11 points. Wade and Greg Murphy each added eight points. 

"I thought Antonio gave us a lot of energy tonight," added Herrmann. "Nicksen was tough on the glass and Ben had a tremendous game."