PEMBROKE, N.C. – Jaizec Lottie eclipsed 30 points for the fourth time this season as he poured in a game-high 31 points to help lead Flagler College to an 87-80 overtime win over the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

Flagler extended its win streak to four and improved to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Peach Belt, the program's best start ever in the league. The Saints share first place in the conference with Georgia Southwestern State University. UNC Pembroke dropped to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

"We were really fortunate to get a win tonight," said head coach Chad Warner. "They were very prepared and had us off balance all night. I was proud of our resilience and ability to stay in there and fight."

Just getting to overtime was remarkable. After Flagler's Chris Metzger tied the game at 77 with a layup with 22 seconds left, UNCP's Trenton McIntyre was able to draw the fifth foul on Jalen Barr with nine seconds left in regulation. McIntyre missed both free throws. A three-pointer attempt at the buzzer by Lawrence Slim did not find its mark.

Spencer Levi gave the Braves an 80-79 lead with a layup with 3:20 left in overtime, but UNCP went 0-for-5 from the field the rest of the way while Flagler prospered from the free throw line making all six of its opportunities in the last 1:26.  

The Saints made 17-of-24 from the free throw line, including 11-of-13 in the final 25 minutes of the game. Lottie sank 11-of-12 from the charity stripe.

Chris Metzger recorded his first double-double of the season with 20 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Barr added 10 points, eight rebounds, and blocked three shots. Derrick Ellis, Jr. tallied seven assists and had four steals.

Flagler forced 24 UNC Pembroke turnovers, which turned into 32 points for the Saints.

McIntyre led four Braves in double figures with 16 points. Cortez Marion-Holmes added 15 points and seven rebounds while Jordan Ratliffe tacked on 11 points and eight rebounds. Malik Sanders contributed 10 points and Levi grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

UNCP struggled from the free throw line making only 18-of-34, and were 9-of-20 in the final 25 minutes. 

The two top teams in the Peach Belt, Flagler and Georgia Southwestern, will meet on Saturday (Jan. 23) at 3:30 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium. Flagler will have limited capacity for the game due to COVID-19 pandemic protocols, but the game will be streamed live at flaglerathletics.com.

NOTES: Flagler snapped a 12-game losing streak to UNCP and won its first game at Pembroke since joining the PBC in 2009-10.
 
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