PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Chowan Men's Basketball team was unable to find their stroke in the second half against nationally-ranked UNC Pembroke in league action on Wednesday night on the road.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 61, #5 UNC Pembroke 87

RECORDS | Chowan 12-11 (10-8), UNC Pembroke 25-1 (17-1)

LOCATION | Pembroke, N.C. (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Christian Koonce led the Hawks with 13 points.  Jay Estime and Daylan Askew chipped in with nine points each.  Isaac Hippolyte grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Chowan rallied to cut a double-digit deficit to seven at the half with a 10-1 run.  The Hawks would shoot 22.6% (7-31) in the second half after shooting 48.1% (13-27) in the first half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

Jay Estime scored six of the opening eight points for the Hawks with Christian Koonce adding a basket as the Hawks would trail 9-8 early.  UNCP went on a small run before Cheick Traore registered a dunk on one end and a block on the other.  Donavon Martin added a layup and Traore collected another basket to keep pace with the Braves, 17-14.

UNC Pembroke pushed their lead to double-digits with a 20-6 run, 37-20.  Isaac Hippolyte and RJ Wilson would slow the run with a pair from the charity stripe.  Donavon Martin would end the run with a layup and a jumper.

Daylan Askew would knock down a triple before Christian Koonce and Cheick Traore went 1-2 from the line.  Jay Estime connected from deep and Askew added a jumper to cut the deficit to 42-32.  Askew added another jumper to trim the deficit to single digits.  Koonce would add a layup before the buzzer to finish off the half on a 10-1 run and trail 43-36 at the half.

Second Half:

RJ Wilson picked up a pair at the stripe to start the half.  Christian Koonce added a layup as UNC Pembroke went on a 15-4 run to push their lead back to double-figures.  Preston Le Gassick slowed the run with a jumper.  Koonce would hit a jumper along with Cheick Traore added a pair from the line to cut the deficit to 61-46.

Christian Koonce tacked on a pair from the stripe before Daylan Askew scored a layup in transition.  Koonce added a jumper before the Braves moved the deficit to 75-52 with a run.  Donavon Martin added a point at the charity stripe.  Isaac Hippolyte tallied a pair from the line as the Hawks would struggle from the floor before Hippolyte ended the five minute shooting draught with a layup.

Cheick Traore added a free throw before Skyler Davies notched a layup.  Veigar Alexandersson went 1-2 from the line to conclude the scoring for the Hawks.

UP NEXT

Chowan looks to secure their spot in the Conference Carolinas Championship as the Hawks travel to Bristol, Tenn. to take on King on Sunday, February 19.  Tip-off is slated for 4:30pm.