BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's basketball team battled early, but ultimately fell to #15/17 UNC Pembroke, 88-62 Thursday afternoon.
Michael Mays led the Tornado with 22 points, while
Henry Okoye scored a career-high eight points and pulled four rebounds.
THE BASICS
FINAL: #15/17 UNC Pembroke 88, King 62
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 3-7, 2-2 Conference Carolinas; #15/17 UNC Pembroke 10-1, 3-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- UNC Pembroke started the game on a 12-5 run, with the Tornado getting a three from Mays and a jumper from Kenny Turner.
- Coming out of a timeout, Brandon Lamberth and Turner went back-to-back, bringing the Tornado to within 12-9.
- After the Braves stretched the lead to 23-12, Myles McCrary hit an alley-oop to make it a 23-14 game with 9:31 to play.
- Mays hit a driving layup with 4:49 to play before hitting a floater to make it a 31-24 game with 3:53 remaining.
- The Braves would then score six consecutive points before a Mays jump shot connected
- After UNCP extended their lead to 43-27, Lamberth drilled a three, trimming the lead to 43-30.
Second Half
- UNC Pembroke started the half on a 9-0 run before Mays knocked down a three that made it 53-33 with 16:59 to play.
- Pembroke then hit a pair of threes, with Mays hitting a pair of free throws in between, bringing the score to 59-35.
- UNCP them went on a 6-4 run, extending their lead to 67-37.
- Shan Jenkins hit a layup with 8:08 to play, then on the ensuing inbounds pass, Darron Howard intercepted the pass and hit a floating jumper, forcing a UNCP timeout.
- The Tornado ended the game on an 18-13 run, with Okoye scoring five of those points, but the Tornado were unable to close the gap.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Okoye's eight points is a new career high.
- This was the sixth time this season that Mays has scored 20 or more points.
- King shot just 16.7 percent from beyond the arc, marking their lowest three-point shooting game of the season.
FOR THE FOES
- Cortez Marion-Holmes led the Braves with 16 points, and was one of five players to clear double digit points.
- Nygell Verdier and Bradlee Haskell both scored 15 points, while Elijah Cobb and Javonte Waverly both finished with 10 points.
UP NEXT
- King will host the University of Mount Olive Saturday afternoon.
- The Braves will play at Lees-McRae Saturday afternoon.
