PEMBROKE, N.C. -- Augusta State sprinted out to an 11-0 lead over UNC Pembroke Thursday night and registered a 72-54 Peach Belt Conference road win in English E. Jones Center.

The victory moved the third-ranked Jaguars to 16-1 overall and 6-1 in the PBC, while the Braves slipped to 11-5 and 4-4 in the league.

With the win, ASU equaled the best start in school history through 17 games, matching the 1969-70 squad coached by former Augusta College AD and PBC Commissioner Marvin Vanover. The win also marked the 16th straight victory in the series with UNCP.

Sophomore guard Ben Purser, making his fourth start of the season, booked a game-high 17 points, while seniors Franck Ndongo and George Johnson netted 14 points each. Junior guard Tye Beal managed 10 points off the bench, with Ndongo just missing his fifth double-double of the season with nine rebounds.

Shahmel Brackett led the Braves with 11 points and Chris Hargrove logged 10.

ASU connected on four of its first five field-goal attempts and Johnson's 3-pointer at the 15:13 mark put the Jags in front 11-0. UNCP closed within 13-10 before the Jags counted with a 12-3 spurt to take a double-digit lead. The Braves inched within six with 1:45 left in the half, only to have ASU score the last five points for a 33-21 lead at the break.

Pembroke sliced its deficit to 39-34 at the 13:17 mark of the second half before ASU answered with a 13-0 run. Senior forward Howard Brown's tip-in gave the Jags their largest lead of the night at 60-39 with 6:20 remaining.

ASU shot 40.0 percent from the field and hit three treys, compared to 44.4 percent from the field and five 3-pointers from the Braves.

The Jags outscored UNCP 25-11 off of turnovers and shot 29-of-37 from the charity stripe (78.4 percent).

ASU hosts USC Aiken (10-6, 4-5) on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.