By Zack Ciboth, sports editor
Second Half Surge Leads UNCP Past Emporia State.
It was a top-25 battle Saturday night for day 1 of the Small Town College Hall of Fame Classic hosted by Florida Southern in Lakeland, Florida. The #8 ranked UNC Pembroke Braves took the court for a matchup with 20th ranked Emporia State Hornets. The. Braves trailed late but rallied to take the win 78-73 to finish off the first day.
” It was just a really great basketball game, Emporia State is a really good team, that was a fun game to be a part of coaching win or lose. I mean it’s just kind of what this event’s about. It’s about two teams at this level going at it and I’m happy we won but it was a pretty special game,” UNCP basketball coach Drew Richards said.
Back and forth early in the first half the Braves took the lead 21-20 when Javonte Waverley drove in for the layup, the Hornets took things into their hands extending their lead to a 10-point 40-30 lead but the Braves did not back down going on a 8-0 run to cut the Hornets lead down to 40-38. ESU took that lead over the Braves into halftime.
The Hornets remained in the second early in the second half until a three-pointer from Braves JaJuan Carr tied the game at 48-48. Another three pointer from Josh Barenbaum gave the Braves the 51-50 lead and they would keep that lead as they finished things off on a 10-0 run for the win.
” I think once we got the lead like we were kind of knocking on the door a lot, and it was a two point game and then we got the lead and once we got the lead, we tried focusing on segments of the game and I think our mojo kinda clicked,” Richards said.
Amare Miller led the way for the Braves finishing with 24 points on 12-for-13 shooting attempts on the night and adding 14 rebounds for his double-double performance. Elijah Cobb followed with 11 points and five rebounds. Carr also finished with 11 points on the night and recored five assist in the process.
Braves Fall Late to Florida Southern
The UNC Pembroke men’s basketball team fell on the final day of the HOF Classic when they took the on the Florida Southern Mochasins Sunday evening. It was another close Battle for the Braves but the Mochasins rallied late to hold off the Braves for the 87-82 win.
The Mochasins jumped out to an early lead until the Braves mounted a comeback and a Javonte Waverly three pointer tied the game at 13-13. That didn’t stop Florida Southern as they gained momentum and pushed their lead to 30-22 as time was winding down. The Braves went on a huge scoring run to trail 40-39 at the half.
The Mochasins continued where they left off keeping control of their leading despite the Braves keeping it close at most times. A scoring run by Florida Southern sealed the deal for things as they held on for the win.
Nygell Verdier led the team finishing with 21 points, five assist and two steals, Cobb followed with 17 points, five rebounds, two assist and two steals. Jamarvious Jones finished the evening with 16 points, five rebounds and three assist.
The #8 Braves (1-1) will travel to Harrogate, Tenn. when they take on #6 Lincoln Memorial (1-1) for another a top-25 battle. Tip is set for 7 p.m.