PEMBROKE, N.C. – UNC Pembroke placed five players in double figures Wednesday night as the Braves defeated Lander, 83-69, in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

Lander falls to 5-11 overall and 2-5 in the PBC, while UNCP moves to 14-4, (7-2).

JR Washington and Chris Tate each scored a game-high 16 points, while Tate grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Clenzo Ross added 12 points and Rahu Purdie finished with 11 points and three assists.

Washington's 16 points extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 52 consecutive games. 

UNCP got 14 points each from Nigel Grant, Mike Smith and Andrew Evans, while Akia Pruitt scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. 

Lander took a 5-0 lead on a Washington three-pointer and a layup from Purdie, but the Braves came right back with back-to-back threes from Alex Bradley. With the score tied at 23-23 with 6:23 to play in the first half, UNCP embarked on a 27-7 run to end the half and took a 50-30 lead into the locker room.

Trailing 78-60 with 4:04 remaining, Lander rallied to cut the deficit to 78-69 with 47 seconds left to play. However, Pruitt iced the game for the Braves with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer from Evans ended the night. 

Lander connected on 29-of-52 floor shots for 49.2 percent, including 9-of-24 threes for 37.5 percent. The Bearcats made 2-of-7 free throws for 28.6 percent.

UNCP netted 28-of-56 field goals for 50 percent, including 13-of-27 three pointers for 48.1 percent. The Braves sank 14-of-17 foul shots for 82.4 percent.

UNC Pembroke outrebounded Lander, 40-24.

Lander will host Armstrong State at 3:30, Saturday, in a PBC contest in Horne Arena.