Hinton lifts men’s
hoops over WSSU in OT
WINSTON-SALEM — Keysheen Hinton nailed a jumper with 3.5 seconds left in overtime to give the 13th-ranked UNC-Pembroke men’s basketball team the lead as the Braves rallied back from a late deficit in regulation to knock off Winston-Salem State, 89-88, on Tuesday evening in the C.E. Gaines Center.
It was the second-straight victory for the Braves (2-1) who have now won 10 of their last 13 road games dating back to the start of the 2014-15 campaign. It was the second loss of the season for the Rams (1-2) who are in the midst of a season-opening five-game home stand. It was the first series meeting for the two schools who are separated by just 144 miles.
Quamain Rose keyed a season- and game-best 24 points with five 3-pointers and Alex Bradley added 14 points for the Braves who shot nearly 62 percent from the field in the first half. Freshman Carson Mounce came off the bench to tally a dozen points on 6-of-6 shooting, while Hinton added seven key points in just six minutes of action.
C.J. Ford totaled a team-high 17 points for the Rams who canned 29 of their 40 attempts from the charity stripe in the outing. Rayvon Harris added 14 points for the hosts as well. The Braves were whistled for 30 personal fouls in the contest, while the Rams exited the outing with just 18 penalties. The Black & Gold finished 10-of-14 from the free throw line.
The contest featured 11 tie scores and 18 lead changes.
Rose canned a 3-pointer just less than a minute into the extra time to give the Braves an 84-81 lead, but Winston-Salem State scored the game’s next five points to retake control. Demone Harrison’s short jumper with 13 seconds put the hosts back up on top, but Hinton’s running jumper on the ensuing possession helped UNCP steal the road win.
Carlos Rankins hit a layup with 25 seconds left and, following a turnover by Rose on the other end of the court, Ford nailed a pair of free throws to give the Rams an 81-78 lead with six seconds left in regulation. However, Rose corralled the inbounds pass and ran the length of the floor before draining a desperation trey that sent the game into overtime.
The Braves will close out a season-opening five game stretch away from home this weekend when they head to Mount Olive for the 50th Annual Pickle Classic. UNCP will battle Barton (2-1) in Friday’s opening game at 5 p.m. before locking horns with the host- and sixth-ranked Trojans (2-1) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be played inside Mount Olive’s Kornegay Arena.
Big second half gives women’s
hoops season-opening win
PEMBROKE — Using an 18-7 scoring advantage in the third quarter, the UNC-Pembroke women’s basketball team regained the lead and turned back the visiting Fayetteville State Broncos, 63-56, in the 2015 regular season opener at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court on Tuesday evening.
Freshman Avery Locklear picked up a game-high 16 points for UNCP (1-0) in her collegiate debut as she knocked down four 3-pointers, while Jonissa Monley added 12 points and Se’Dasia Love had 11. Monley was one rebound shy of a double-double as she snatched nine boards, while senior Mary Robinson had a trio of blocks and Chandrica Fuller dished out four assists.
The Braves put up 26 points in the paint and collected 14 points off of 17 turnovers by the Broncos. Bench players gave UNCP 34 points compared to 19 from Fayetteville State, while UNCP had 13 second-chance points after claiming nine offensive rebounds. The Braves finished the contest shooting 39.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the arc and an astounding 72.2 percent from the charity stripe.
Locklear put the Braves on the board first with a trey in the first 10 seconds of the contest, but the Broncos outscored UNCP 21-9 in the first period. The Black and Gold added 17 points in the second period compared to 11 by Fayetteville State, but trailed 32-16 at the half.
A strong offensive presence in the third period pushed the Braves past the Broncos with a 23-7 run and the hosts held a 44-39 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Tactical UNCP defense held off a comeback attempt in the final period as the Broncos were unable to chip away at the 10-point lead.
Makayla Williams led the Broncos with 15 points, while Doreen Richardson logged 10. Bria Robinson posted nine points and nine rebounds, while Richardson and Shamiaya Battle each had six assists.
UNCP looks to continue its winning ways on Saturday as the Braves welcome regional opponent Coker (1-1) to Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court for a 1 p.m. tipoff. Admission to the contest will be free.
