PEMBROKE. N.C. | Nigel Grant scored 16 points to lead four University of North Carolina at Pembroke men's basketball players in double figures as the Braves held off Young Harris College 70-61 in a Peach Belt Conference game Saturday (Feb. 10) afternoon at Lumbee Bank Court.

The Braves improved to 19-4 overall and remained in first place in the Peach Belt with a 15-2 mark. Young Harris fell to 7-16 and 6-11. The Mountain Lions will travel down Interstate 95 Monday (Feb. 12) for a 7:30 p.m. PBC contest against Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina.

The nine-point margin was the largest lead by either team that saw the score tied three times and eight lead changes.

The Mountain Lions took their largest lead of the game - seven points (30-23) - as a putback from J.B. Charles with 4:45 left in the first half culminated a 16-5 run,  The Braves responded with a 12-2 run to end the first half as they took a 35-32 lead into the locker room.

The Braves extended their lead to six points (44-38) after a layup by James Murray-Boyles with 15:59 remaining, but the Mountain Lions got three-pointers from Demari Edwards and Ben Waterhouse to battle back to a tie at 48 after a Corey Nelson free throw with 12:37 to go.

UNC Pembroke used eight  consecutive points to open up 64-57 lead on a free throw by Micah Kinsey with 3:27 to play. The closest the Mountain Lions would get the rest of the way was five points (64-59) after a Nelson layup with 60 seconds; however, the Braves hit all six free throw attempts to thwart the YHC comeback.

David Strother added 13 points for the Braves, while Tyrell Kirk added 11. Murray-Boyles recorded a double double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Akia Pruitt also had 10 rebounds for the Braves, who outrebounded Young Harris 49-39.

Nicksen Blanc led the Mountain Lions with 16 points, wile Charles added 10. Nelson and Antonio Wade had nine points apiece,