UNC Pembroke’s Historic Season Ends in NCAA Southeast Regional 3/13/2022 10:37:34 PM BOX SCORE | AUGUSTA, Ga. – No. 11 UNC Pembroke, the fourth seed in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship Southeast Regional, hit an impressive six 3-pointers in the first half en route to a narrow lead, but fifth-ranked and top-seeded Augusta had a strong second half in an 82-76 win over the Braves in the semifinal round on Sunday evening at Christenberry Fieldhouse. The opening 5:25 of the game featured three lead changes and three ties with the last coming at 10. The host Jaguars took a slim four-point lead, 14-10, before UNC Pembroke went on a 15-5 run over the next 3:58 to take a six-point advantage. Augusta clawed back to tie the score at 27 and 30, but Tyrell Kirk hit a three to break the tie and spark a 10-4 run to give the Braves a 40-34 lead at the break. Augusta scored the first nine points and 19 of 23 to begin the final 20 minutes to take a nine-point, 53-44 lead. The back-and-forth continued as the Braves responded with a 16-5 run, led by four points each from Spencer Levi, Trenton McIntyre and Kirk, to go up two, 60-58 with 8:56 to play. Augusta went 6-of-8 from the charity stripe over the next 3:05 to go back ahead by four, 66-62. Kirk and McIntyre combined for the next nine Braves’ points to tie the score at 71 with 1:28 remaining. Kirk drained a big three to net the game at 74, but the Jags went 8-for-10 at the line in the final 36 seconds to pull away for the 82-76 win. Augusta finished 26-of-57 (45.6 percent) from the field, including a 52 percent (13-of-25) mark in the second half. They also went 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from the 3-point arc and 22-of-28 (78.6 percent) from the free throw line. UNC Pembroke finished 27-of-65 (41.5 percent) from the floor 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from long range and 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) from the line. Kirk finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals to pace the Braves while Jordan Ratliffe and Levi each add 12 points. Levi recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Tyshaun Crawford led Augusta with a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to go with four blocks. The Braves tied the program record with 27 wins on the year and set the program record for single-season win percentage as they finish 27-4. The Jaguars improve to 30-3 and will face No. 2 seed Queens in the regional final on Tuesday, March 15.