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28
Men’s Basketball
UNCP Captures PBC Tournament Crown!
minutes later, but the Cougars answered with 10-straight points
over the next three minutes to regain the momentum. Columbus
State, however, would connect on just three of their final 15 shots
GREENWOOD, S.C. – Brandon Watts scored 14 of his team-best 18
points in the second half, and the 24th-ranked UNC Pembroke men’s from the field to seal its fate. The turn in fortune helped fuel a
basketball team limited Columbus State to just 20 percent shooting game-changing 20-6 run for the Black & Gold that gave it an 87-74
advantage with less than a minute to play.
over the game’s final 7-1/2 minutes, to lift the Braves to the pro-
gram’s first Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship with an The Cougars shot 63 percent from the field in a foul-stricken first
89-77 victory over the Cougars on Sunday afternoon in Horne Arena. half, including a 4-of-7 clip from the perimeter, and led for more
The result marked the 10th-straight victory for the Braves (24-7) than 12 minutes of the opening stanza. The Braves kept themselves
who locked up the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA postsea- in the contest with hot shooting as well, but also helped their cause
with 15 second chance points.
son with the win as well.
The setback snapped a two-game series win streak for the
Cougars (20-9) who are likely to wrap up an at-large berth into the PBC Renames Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year
postseason as well when the pairings are announced on Sunday
Award in Honor of Herbert Greene
evening.
The Black & Gold got 15 points from both PBC Tournament Most AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference and commissioner David
Valuable Player Akia Pruitt and James Murray-Boyles, while Nigel
Brunk have announced that beginning this year, the annual award
Grant chipped in a baker’s dozen and Quamain Rose added 11. Watts given to the men’s basketball Coach of the Year will be named in
joined Pruitt on the all-tournament team as well.
honor of former Columbus State coach and athletic director Herbert
Greene. The Herbert Greene PBC Men’s Basketball Coach of the
Darius Joell turned in a game-best 21 points for the Cougars, while Year will be presented for the first time on Friday, March 3, at the
all-conference standout JaCori Payne tallied 19 points and five assists. basketball awards banquet on the eve of the PBC Tournament.
A 3-pointer from Watts with 14:55 left sparked the Braves on
a 15-6 run that eventually gave them a 67-58 advantage four
“This is such a deserving honor for one of the great people in the
2016-17