PEMBROKE, N.C. – A 51-point first half and a sustained offensive push was too much to overcome as Clayton State (2-6, 0-1 PBC) fell 98-74 at UNC Pembroke (7-3, 1-1 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Thursday, December 19.
 
Senior guard Kyle Kincey (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the way with 15 points, two rebounds and a pair of assists while sophomore forward Ricardo Saams, Jr. (Miramar, Fla.) finished with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting. He would also add two boards, two steals and a pair of assists in 25 minutes.
 
Sophomore guard Brian Sims, Jr. (Trussville, Ala.) came away with seven points and career-highs of five caroms and three assists and redshirt-junior center Tionne Williams, Jr. (Phenix City, Ala.) and redshirt-sophomore Bryan Hart (Hampton, Va.) each had nine points. Sophomore guard Arusha Hunter (Snellville, Ga.) chipped in with seven points and junior forward John Mason (Avon Park, Fla.) rounded things out with six points.
 
Following an opening 3:45 that saw UNCP holding a narrow 9-7 lead the Braves would turn up the offense as David Strother and Shaun Kirk each scored six points to fuel a 21-11 stretch that made it 30-18 with 7:54 left in the half.
 
The Lakers would quell the run and cut it back to eight, 30-22, just over a minute later but UNC Pembroke would answer with an 11-2 burst to extend to a 41-24 advantage with 4:28 on the clock. From there they would go on to close out the half with a 51-30 lead as they made it an overall run of 21-8 over the final 6:43.
 
It would get no better in the second half as the Braves pushed their lead to 68-42 with 14:21 remaining. Clayton State would rally to within 18 points, 70-52, behind a 10-2 run less than four minutes later but UNCP would slowly grow their lead to 88-61 with four and a half left. From there they would go on to close out the 98-74 victory.
 
Jordan Ratliffe led UNC Pembroke with a game-high 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting and added four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals while Akia Pruitt flirted with a triple-double before finishing with 12 points, nine assists, seven boards and four blocks.
 
Spencer Levi added 15 points and six caroms and David Strother posted 12 points, six rebounds and six assists. Carson Mounce came away with nine points and four boards and Shaun Kirk and Micah Kinsey each had eight points.
 
The Lakers are back in action on Saturday, December 21 as they close out the decade against Georgia College. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at The Loch.