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MURFREESBORO – History was made in a good way here Wednesday night.

For the first time ever, the Chowan University men’s basketball team has defeated UNC Pembroke in Murfreesboro as the Hawks edged past the Braves, 88-87, in a hard-fought game by both teams.

Chowan used the win to maintain the lead in the East Division of Conference Carolinas. The Hawks are 4-0 in the division; 6-1 in the conference; and 9-4 overall.

UNC Pembroke fell to 2-1 in the division; 8-1 in the conference; and 10-5 overall.

Daylan Askew led the Hawks with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Aaron Ross delivered 18 points in the win. RJ Wilson added 11 points, five assists, and a steal.

UNC Pembroke placed five in double figures led by Bradlee Haskell’s 20 points and 17 from Josh Berenbaum.

Chowan trailed by six (51-45) three minutes into the second half. Highlighted by a three-pointer each from Keith Reese Jr. and Askew, the Hawks went on a 10-2 run and grabbed a 55-53 lead at the 14:33 mark of the second half.

Over the next three minutes, the two teams swapped the lead six times.

Chowan would manage to build their lead to five points on two occasions: the first at 69-64 with 8:26 remaining thanks to a three-pointer by Dominique Bailey and again at 71-66 after Wilson’s basket at the 7:44 mark.

UNC Pembroke rallied to tie the game at 71-71 and then took the lead at 74-71 when Haskell buried a three-pointer with 5:35 left.

The two teams traded baskets over the next 68 seconds, leaving a 78-78 stalemate.

Highlighted by an Askew jumper and a pair of Wilson free throws, Chowan surged ahead by six points (84-78) with a little over four minutes left and never relinquished the lead down the stretch.

For the game, the Hawks grabbed 29 rebounds and had 30 points in the paint. Chowan earned eight second-chance points, compared to UNC Pembroke’s 17.

The score was tied nine times and there were 18 lead changes during the game

The Hawks will head to King University for a Conference Carolinas showdown on Saturday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.