PEMBROKE, N.C. –
Justin Nichelson finished with a team-high 21 points off the bench, while four other Bobcats scored in double figures, but it was not enough as host UNC Pembroke outscored the visiting Lees-McRae men's basketball team by 13 in the second half en route to a 100-85 win in the Conference Carolinas action this evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: UNC Pembroke – 100; Lees-McRae – 85
LOCATION: Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court – Pembroke, North Carolina
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (6-1/3-1), Lees-McRae (4-2/2-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Nichelson shot 7 of 14 from the field to go along with four rebounds and two assists, while Timon Jones chipped in 14 points on 4 of 6 shooting from distance.
- London England added 11 points and two steals, with both Malik McConnell and Drew Gardner finished with 10 points and a combined six rebounds and seven assists.
- Jaylin Stewart added eight points and four assists.
- Both teams traded runs for the majority of the first half, with a late pair of free throws by McConnell cut the UNC Pembroke lead to 39-37 at halftime.
- After the Braves extended their lead to 69-55 at the midway point of the second stanza, the Bobcats trimmed the deficit back to 12 points on a layup by Nichelson on the next possession.
- UNC Pembroke extended the lead to 83-61 with seven minutes left and overcame a late Bobcat rally to clinch the conference win.
- Lees-McRae shot 47 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the three-point line, but were outrebounded 44-34.
- The Bobcats held a 38-31 edge in bench points, while UNC Pembroke finished with a game-high 52 points in the paint.
FOR THE FOES:
- Five Braves scored in double figures, led by Jordan Ratliffe who finished with a team-high 21 points.
- Deon Berrien chipped in 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will visit Francis Marion on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. in the final game of a two-game road trip.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
