COLUMBUS, Ga. – UNC Pembroke had their historic season come to an end on Tuesday night in the 2025 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship final. The Braves erased a 19-point deficit to force overtime against Lenoir-Rhyne, but the Bears escaped with the 76-74 victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne, who is ranked 10th in the NABC poll and 13th in the D2CSC poll, took a 23-11 lead midway through the first half following a 12-2 run, but UNC Pembroke had an answer. The 25th-ranked Braves scored nine straight points to pull within 25-22, but the Bears came back with run of their own. Lenoir-Rhyne scored 11 straight points and led 37-24 at the half.

The UNC Pembroke deficit grew to 19 at 52-33 before the Braves started to chip away. The comeback started with a 14-4 spurt that pulled UNC Pembroke within 56-47 with nine minutes remaining. JaJuan Carr and Bradlee Haskell drilled three-point baskets, cutting the Brave deficit to 60-55 with seven minutes remaining to complete the 22-8 run. Haskell pulled the Braves within two in the final three minutes before a Carr layup made the score 68-67 in the final minute. UNC Pembroke then split two free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

UNC Pembroke scored the first basket of the extra session and led 73-72 before four straight points gave Lenoir-Rhyne a 76-73 lead. The Braves pulled within two with a free throw in the final seconds and had one final effort fall off the rim in the waning seconds, giving Lenoir-Rhyne the 76-74 victory.

Haskell led UNC Pembroke with 22 points and five assists while Carr added 19 points and eight rebounds. Dallas Gardner chipped in with 17 points.
Conrad Luczynski led the Bears with 19 points and 19 rebounds.