AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke overcame a 13-point halftime deficit and held off No. 5 seed Flagler 74-70 Saturday evening in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It marked the first time the teams had met since UNC Pembroke left the Peach Belt Conference for Conference Carolinas.
The Braves improve to 27-3 on the season while the Saints finish the year at 23-8.
Leading 25-20 late in the first half, Derrick Ellis Jr., canned a jumper. Less than a minute later, Jaizec Lottie found Jalen Barr for a lay-up, giving FC a 29-20 advantage. Lottie hit a lay-up and Barr connected on a free throw, giving the designated visitors a 32-20 lead with 2:11 to go before intermission.
UNCP pulled within eight on a pair of free throws by Jordan Ratliffe with 1:11 to go in the half, but Ellis Jr., connected with Spencer Bain for a three-point bucket, sending the Saints to halftime with a 13-point lead, 37-24.
The Braves netted the first six points of the second half. Tyrell Kirk hit a three-ball. He registered an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 37-30. After Flagler added two points, UNC Pembroke embarked on a 9-0 spurt to pull within one, 40-39, with 14:47 to play. Ratliffe found Javonte Waverly for a three-point shot and Ratliffe hit a lay-up to pull the home team within one.
The Braves tied it at 42-42 on Kirk’s second straight free throw. UNCP took a 49-45 lead when Nate Dunlop found Kirk for a three-point bucket at the 10:17 mark.
Lottie pulled the Saints within one at the 9:05 mark. With 8:28 to go, Lottie nailed a three-point shot for a two-point edge, 51-49.
Tied at 56-56, Ratliffe drained a shot from distance. After Jalen Barr made a lay-up for the Saints, Ratliffe answered with an old-fashioned three-point play. UNCP led 62-59 but Ratliffe nailed two charity tosses and Waverly nailed a three-point shot for an eight-point lead, 67-59, with 2:28 to go.
The Saints pulled within five at 70-65 but a pair of free throws by Waverly pushed the margin to 75-67 with 28 ticks remaining. Flagler hit a three-point shot with four seconds to play, but it was not enough.
Kirk and Ratliffe led the victors with 22 points apiece. Deon Berrien added 11 markers. Spencer Levi pulled down a game-best 15 points.
For the Saints, Lottie led all scorers with 23 points. Barr and Ellis Jr., accounted for 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Barr snagged a team-high 10 rebounds while Lottie narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
For the game, UNC Pembroke hit 23-of-57 from the floor (40.4 percent), including eight-of-23 from downtown (34.8 percent). The team canned 20 free throws.
Flagler connected on 22-of-62 from the field (35.5 percent), including eight-of-31 from distance (25.8 percent). The visitors hit 18-of-30 from the free throw line (60.0 percent).
The Braves will face top-seeded Augusta at 7:30 p.m., tomorrow.
