PEMBROKE, N.C. – The King University men's basketball team fell to one of the top teams in the country on Saturday afternoon, eighth-ranked UNC Pembroke. The Tornado tried to make a run late, but it wasn't enough as the Braves took the Conference Carolinas contest 96-72.
THE BASICS
FINAL: #8/#8 UNC Pembroke 96, King 72
LOCATION: Lumbee Guarantee Bank Court; Pembroke, N.C.
RECORDS: King 5-14, 4-8 Conference Carolinas; UNC Pembroke 21-1, 13-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- A Daron Howard jump shot pulled King within 7-6 in the opening five minutes, but the Braves responded with a run.
- UNC Pembroke scored 12 straight points to gain a 19-6 lead before a Jaylen Bernard triple for the Tornado.
- Michael Mays then knocked down a pair of triples, but each time the Braves responded with points.
- Each time King tried to put a run together in the first half, UNC Pembroke had an answer as they gradually extended their lead.
- A 7-0 run gave the Braves their largest lead of the half at 45-25 with two minutes remaining before another Mays trifecta.
- Mays then converted a three-point play for a personal 6-0 run before UNC Pembroke closed the half on a 5-1 run to take a 50-32 lead at halftime.
- The Braves shot 70.0 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes while holding King to a 33.3 field goal percentage.
Second Half
- King scored the first four points of the half on baskets from Brandon Lamberth and Josh Jackson.
- However, the Braves came back with 10 straight points and a 14-1 run in the opening four minutes to take a 64-37 lead before another Jackson basket.
- The King deficit grew to 72-44 midway through the half, but baskets from Mays and Kenny Turner tried to get the Tornado going.
- King went on a 9-1 run as a Myles McCrary layup pulled the Tornado within 73-53.
- The Tornado kept fighting as a Malik Payton four-point play capped a 6-0 run and pulled King within 78-63 with six minutes remaining.
- However, the was as close as the Tornado could get as UNC Pembroke took the contest 96-72.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mays led the Tornado with 26 points while Turner followed with nine points and eight rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Nygell Verdier led five UNC Pembroke scorers in double figures with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds.
- Bradlee Haskell and Javonte Waverly added 14 points apiece.
UP NEXT
- King returns home to face Emmanuel College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center Complex.
- UNC Pembroke hosts Southern Wesleyan on Wednesday night.
