by Zack Ciboth, Editor-In-Chief
At the beginning of the season the Braves season was uncertain as they lost two key players and faced a tough schedule early on where they came away with a 1-4 record during that stretch to start the season. But the Braves continued to buy into the process Head Basketball coach Drew Richards was selling.
The Braves started to play together and play for each other and the name on the back and front of the jersey. A 1-4 start quickly turned into a season full of success and historic and career defining achievements and moments. The Braves went from 1-4 to finishing the regular season at 25-6.
They claimed the Conference Carolinas East Division title and locked up the #1 overall seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament. UNCP then took down King in the semifinals and faced off with Emmanuel in a rematch of last year’s Conference title game. The Braves took down the Lions in a historic 107-91 win.
With their second straight Conference Carolinas Championship secured, the Braves turned their focus to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament. UNCP claimed the #5 seed in the NCAA Southeast Regional and punched their ticket to the big dance for the second straight year and the 11th time in program history.
UNCP drew the #4 seed Lincoln Memorial in what would be a rematch earlier in the season when the Braves and Railsplitters met in Pembroke where the Braves claimed a 83-75 win. The result was the same this time around with the Braves once again taking down LMU in the first round in a thrilling 90-88 win in which Braves Josh Berenbaum would knock in the game-winning layup as time expired to advance the Braves
UNCP then turned their attention to the Round of 32 where they faced off with the host of the Southeast Regional and the #1 overall seed in Columbus State. The Braves jumped on the Cougars early and held off a last minute comeback to knock off Columbus State and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever.
That now brings us to Tuesday night where UNCP will face off with the #3 seed the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. The game will be played tomorrow night at 7pm in Columbus Georgia. The winner of this matchup will head to the Elite Eight.