FERRUM, Va. – Ferrum College's men's basketball team beat Conference Carolinas East Division front-runner UNC Pembroke tonight at home, winning 65-64 on a last-second shot at Swartz Gym.

RECORDS
Ferrum 14-8, 12-4 CC
UNC Pembroke 15-7, 12-2 CC

THE BASICS
UNC Pembroke led 5-0 to open the game, but the Panthers battled back with an Alfredo Abel-Rivera jumper and a Gerren Jones three-pointer to cut the lead to 7-5 at 17:16. The Braves scored the next four points to build an 11-5 lead, but Rodrigo Farias made a pair of jumpers and Abel-Rivera made a layup to cut the lead to 12-11.
 
Gerren Jones knocked down a pair of free throws at 10:57 to give Ferrum its first lead, 15-14. Jones then took a sweet pass from Farias, made a layup, was fouled and hit a free throw to put Ferrum on top 18-14. Abel-Rivera made a fast break layup at 9:12 to put Ferrum on top 20-14. The two teams battled down the stretch in the first half, with the Braves taking a 25-23 lead at the break.
 
The Braves took a four-point lead early in the second half, but Abdulh Diaby and Abel-Rivera had back-to-back layups and the game was tied 41-41 at 12:59. Diaby made a pair of free throws to tie the game 43-43 at 11:05, then Abel-Rivera made a tough layup, was fouled and made a free throw to give Ferrum a 46-43 lead at 9:23. Jones was then fouled and made one of two free throws then Eden Davis made a fast break three-pointer to give Ferrum a 50-43 lead with 8:31 left to play.
 
The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, with Jones' free throw making it a 57-51 lead at 5:14. Abel-Rivera was fouled at 3:22 and made a pair of free throws, then Diaby took a pass from Davis and dunked it at 2:21 for a 61-54 lead. Farias' two free throws made it a 63-56 game right at 1:59. A tip-in basket by UNCP's Nygell Verdier with 11.5 seconds left in regulation capped a 9-0 run and gave the Braves a 64-63 lead. Following a Ferrum timeout, Jones hit a running jumper with less that a second left for the win.
 
KEY STATS
Ferrum: Jones 17 pts, 6 reb; Abel-Rivera 16 pts, 6 reb; Farias 15 pts, 5 asst; Diaby 14 pts, 6 reb
UNCP: Mahmoud Bangura 16 pts; Nygell Verdier 15 pts; Dallas Whitney 13 pts

UP NEXT
Coach Patrick Corrigan's team will be back in action Saturday, February 14, at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina. The league doubleheader starts with a 2:00 p.m. women's tip-off, and the men will follow at 4:00 p.m.