YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Jordan Ratliffe scored 28 points to lead the University of North Carolina at Pembroke past Young Harris College 107-88 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Saturday (Jan. 4) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Braves improved to 9-3 overall and to 3-1 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions slipped to 2-9 and 0-3. Young Harris returns to action Wednesday (Jan. 8) when they host Clayton State University in a 7:30 p.m. PBC game.

The Braves scored the game's first 11 points and jumped out to a 25-5 lead after Jabrie Bullard sank a three-pointer with 12:04 left in the first half.  UNCP took its largest lead - 26 points (36-10) - of the opening 20 minutes when Akia Pruitt hit two free throws with 8:02 to go and led 59-36 at the half.

UNC Pembroke took its largest lead of the game - 29 points (78-49) - after a Ratliffe three-pointer with 13:20 left.  The Mountain Lions used a 10-0 run to pull within 14 points (86-72) after Seth McCoy hit a top-of-the-key three-pointer with 7:56 remaining. UNCP pushed its lead back out to 20 points (92-72) before Young Harris used a 10-2 spurt to pull within 12 points (94-82) after Jacorie Archie nailed a three-pointer with 4:16 left. It would be as close as the Mountain Lions would get.

David Strother added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Braves, while Pruitt had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Bullard added 17 points. UNC Pembroke, which shot 54.4 percent (37-of-65)from the field, outrebounded the Mountain Lions 49-49 and scored 24 points off 13 YHC turnovers.

Ryle Owens led the Mountain Lions with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and led YHC with six rebounds. Brian Harper added 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds,while Miki Tadic added 12 points. McCoy and Paul Miller adcded eight points each.