Knights stumble in Zaxby’s Tip-Off Clazzic Opener

FLORENCE, S.C.—Junior Michael Dunkins (Candor, N.C.) led St. Andrews Presbyterian College with 15 points but UNC Pembroke dominated the battle of the boards en route to an 85-68 men’s basketball victory on Friday evening in the opening game of the Zaxby’s Tip-Off Clazzic hosted by Francis Marion University.

The Braves (2-1) out rebounded the Knights (0-2) by a commanding 47-22 margin and scored 24 second chance points on 20 offensive boards. Six UNCP players pulled down more boards than SAPC’s four leading rebounders, who all had three rebounds apiece. Braves senior Chris Hargrove (Wilmington, N.C.) hauled in the most with nine.

Dunkins scored his 15 points on 5-of-7 precision including a game-high four 3-pointers. Juniors Aaron Christian (New Bedford, Mass.) and Ryan Streater (Charlotte, N.C.) followed with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

UNCP never trailed and the only tie came in the first 90 seconds after the team’s traded made layups. The Braves built up a 15-point lead in the first half and maintained a 40-29 advantage at the intermission.

St. Andrews used a 12-4 run to start the second half capped by an offensive rebound and made layup by Dunkins to pull within three (44-41), but UNCP scored the next nine points to regain a double digit cushion that they would maintain for the final 14 minutes.

SAPC shot 41.2-percent from the field including an impressive 9-for-22 (40.9%) from behind the arc. UNC Pembroke was more accurate overall at 46.2% but struggled from long range only making 2-of-11 (18.2%).

The sophomore duo of Shahmel Brackett (Florence, S.C.) and George Blakeney (Tarboro, N.C.) combined for half of the Braves points. Brackett drained a game-high 22 points while Blakeney swished 20. Four UNCP players reached the 10-plus point plateau with junior Nate Priest (Tar Heel, N.C.) scoring 14 and classmate Mike Robinson (Winston-Salem, N.C.) netting 10.

Christian set up the Knights offense with a game-high seven assists. Freshman Darian Cahill (Goldsboro, N.C.) scored all nine of his points on a trio of three-pointers while junior Antonio Moffitt (Raleigh, N.C.) chipped in with eight points.

SAPC committed 32 turnovers in its first game of the season but did a much better job protecting the ball on Friday, only committing 11 miscues against The Braves. The Knights forced UNCP into 18 turnovers with 12 steals including three swipes by both senior Marvin Jackson (Gloucester, Va.) and sophomore Barry Tucker (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

St. Andrews will wrap up competition in the Zaxby’s Tip-Off Clazzic against the host Patriots on Saturday night at 8 p.m.