Wingate, N.C.----The UNC Pembroke Braves closed the game on a 19-8 run Wednesday night, prevailing 80-69 at Wingate University in NCAA Division II men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. The Braves improve to 5-1 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-1 on the season.

KEY STATS

- UNCP shot 43 percent from the field, hitting seven-of-23 threes (30 percent)
- Wingate shot 39 percent from the field, connecting on eigth-of-23 triples (35 percent)
- The Braves held a 41-31 rebounding advantage and 7-3 edge in second-chance points
- UNCP held a 28-22 edge in points in the paint
- The teams combined for 39 turnovers, with Pembroke converting 20
- The Braves scored 27 points off 19 Wingate turnovers
- The 'Dogs held a 15-8 edge in fast-break points
- The game featured nine ties and 12 lead changes

KEY BULLDOGS

- Rashaard Pringle had 19 points, four assists and three rebounds, going 11-for-12 at the line
- Jarren Cottingham added 15 points on three-of-five shooting from beyond the arc
- Francis Sio contributed 10 points, three assists, two boards and a steal
- Miguel Priest had seven points
- Frankie Johnson contributed six points, eight boards, four assists and four steals

FIRST HALF

- A pair of early Cottingham threes gave Wingate a 14-10 advantage
- A Chance Mounce jumper and Shaun Kirk free throw put UNCP on top at the 14:38 mark
- A three from Jabrie Bullard gave UNCP a five-point lead with nine minutes left
- Donell Nixon drained a triple to get Wingate back within three
- David Strother hit a pair of free throws at the 2:38 mark to give UNCP a 38-31 lead
- The Bulldogs scored the next nine points to take the lead, getting a layup and three from Sio
- Two Sio free throws put WU on top 40-38; Tyrell Kirk's bucket in the final minute tied it at 40

SECOND HALF

- Cottingham's layup gave the 'Dogs a three-point lead three minutes into the second half
- A Johnson triple and Cottingham dunk made it 51-47 advantage with 13 minutes left
- The Braves answered with a 9-0 run, taking a 58-51 lead on Kirk's triple with 10:45 left
- Wingate scored the next nine points to regain the lead
- Cottingham and Sio hit triples to start the spurt, two Pringle free throws made it 61-58 with eight minutes left
- Jordan Ratliffe's three with 7:55 to go tied it at 61
- The Braves scored eight straight, taking a 69-61 lead on a Mounce bucket with 5:55 left
- Kirk's bucket at the 3:31 mark pushed the lead to double figures
- The 'Dogs got no closer the rest of the way

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, hosting LMU at 5:30 p.m.
- The Bulldogs host Coker Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. to wrap up a five-game home stand