PEMBROKE, N.C. – A late rally would not be enough as Clayton State (5-5, 0-1 PBC) could not overcome a double-digit deficit as UNC Pembroke (7-2, 0-0 PBC) posted an 81-74 victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, December 17.
 
Redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) led the way with a double-double of 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting, 10 boards and two steals while graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. They were joined by junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) with 15 points, four caroms and four steals.
 
Deadlocked at 4-4 early on, UNCP put together a 13-2 stretch to pull ahead 17-6 with 11:46 left in the first half. They would then extend that margin to 32-19 by the 4:34 mark before heading to the break with a 39-28 advantage.
 
In the second half, the Braves would maintain a double-digit lead for the better part of the first seven plus minutes. With the score at 52-40, Clayton State found some life as they scored eight of the next 10 points to cut it to 54-48 with 10:37 left.
 
UNC Pembroke would push it back to an eight point margin on a pair of occasions but the Lakers would not go away. Trailing 58-50 they scored the next six points to cut it to two with 5:45 on the clock. That would be as close as they would get, however, as the Braves used a 10-4 run to push to a 68-60 margin with 2:43 left. From there they would salt away the 81-74 victory.
 
Akia Pruitt led the way for UNCP with 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks while Alex Bradley had 16 points and five assists. Nigel Grant added 11 points, five boards, three assists and two steals and Brandon Watts chipped in with nine points and three blocks.
 
The Lakers wrap up the first half of the season when they host USC Aiken in PBC action on Monday, December 19. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.