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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Both semifinal contests of the 2025 Atlantic Casualty Insurance Conference Carolinas Men’s Basketball Championship were tight as the top two seeds advanced to Sunday’s championship game. UNC Pembroke defeated King University 90-76 while Emmanuel University defeated Chowan University 77-69.
No. 1 UNC Pembroke defeats No. 5 King 90-76
King fought back from a 12-4 deficit and evened the score at 14 before the teams traded baskets. UNC Pembroke later broke a 23-23 tie with an 11-0 run to take a 34-23 lead. The Braves held that advantage and led 39-27 at the break. King chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 49-48 five minutes into the second half. The Tornado later took a 64-63 lead, but UNC Pembroke responded with eight straight points to take a 71-64 lead with five minutes remaining. The Braves then pulled away to take the contest 90-74.
JaJuan Carr led UNC Pembroke with 26 points while Bradlee Haskell and Josh Berenbaum added 16 points apiece. Mikhail Pocknett led King with 35 points and 10 rebounds.
UNC Pembroke advances to the championship for the third time in the last four years. The Braves won the title a season ago.
No. 2 Emmanuel defeats No. 3 Chowan 77-69
The opening half featured six lead changes and two ties as Emmanuel held the largest lead of 23-18 in the half. Chowan regained the lead in the final two minutes before Emmanuel’s Chris Dees hit a triple with 33 seconds remaining, giving the Lions a 28-27 lead at the break. Emmanuel opened up a nine point advantage early in the second half, but Chowan chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 50-49 with 10 minutes remaining. The Hawks later gained a 56-55 lead as the lead exchanged hands over the next few possessions. Emmanuel grabbed a 62-60 lead with five minutes, and held that advantage for the remainder of the contest, pulling away for the 77-69 win.
Chris Dees led Emmanuel with 26 points and six rebounds while Tavarus Webb added 25 points and six rebounds. Daylan Askew led Chowan with 14 points and RJ Wilson added 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Lions will be in the championship contest for the fifth time in the last seven years. Emmanuel fell to UNC Pembroke in overtime a season ago and won the title in 2023 and 2019.
2025 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship
First Round – Sunday, March 2 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 9 Mount Olive 97, No. 10 Francis Marion, 92 (at No. 4 Young Harris)
Box Score
No. 11 Erskine 88, No. 8 Lees-McRae 85 (at No. 5 King)
Box Score
No. 7 Converse 79, No. 12 North Greenville 75 (at No. 6 Barton)
Box Score
Second Round – Monday, March 3 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 4 Young Harris 88, No. 9 Mount Olive 71
Box Score
No. 5 King 97, No. 11 Erskine 85
Box Score
No. 6 Barton 83, No. 7 Converse 67
Box Score
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 5 King 80, No. 4 Young Harris 69
Box Score |
King Press Conference |
Young Harris Press Conference
No. 3 Chowan 86, No. 6 Barton 76
Box Score |
Chowan Press Conference
Semifinals – Saturday, March 8 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 1 UNC Pembroke 90, No. 5 King 76
Box Score |
UNC Pembroke Press Conference
No. 2 Emmanuel 77, No. 3 Chowan 69
Box Score |
Emmanuel Press Conference
Final – Sunday, March 9 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
No. 1 UNC Pembroke vs. No. 2 Emmanuel, 4:00 p.m.