GREENWOOD, S.C. | Nicklas Jonsson scored 22 points to lead six players in double figures as Lander University recorded a 107-97 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory Thursday (Feb. 15) evening at the Finis Horne Arena.
The makeup game was originally scheduled to be played on Jan. 17, but was rescheduled due to snow.
The Bearcats improved to 11-14 overall and to 7-12 in the league, while the Mountain Lions, who were playing in their third consecutive road game, fell to 7-18 and 6-13. The Mountain Lions conclude their road trip Saturday (Feb. 17) in Columbus, Georgia, with a 3:30 p.m. PBC game against Columbus State University.
After the Mountain Lions took a 3-2 lead 57 seconds into the game on a
Ben Waterhouse three-pointer, it was all Bearcats as they shot 67.6 percent (23-of-34) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Lander used a 16-4 run to open up an 18-7 lead on a DeShaundre Rucker with 15:29 to go in the first half. The Bearcats led by as many as 15 points before taking a 54-40 lead into the locker room.
The Mountain Lions used a 17-4 run midway through the second half to cut Lander's 14-point lead down to one (74-73) on an old-fashioned three-point play from
Nicksen Blanc with 9:20 to play.
Greg Murphy and
Antonio Wade each scored five points during the run. However, Lander took control by scoring 10 unanswered points to open up a 90-78 lead on a Rahu Purdie with 4:53 remaining.
The Mountain Lions got as close as six points (98-92) down the stretch on a
Zion Williams' three-point play with 1:27 to go, but Lander was able to seal the game from the free throw line as they hit 7-of-8 attempts in the final 71 seconds.
Purdie and Jordan Dingle had 17 points each for the Bearcats, while Sergio Smith and Srdjan Ivic each had 16. Sidney Robinson also tallied 14 points for Lander, which shot 59.1 percent (39-of-66) from the field in the game.
J.B. Charles led the Mountain Lions with 23 points, while Waterhouse added 18. Murphy added a career-high 14 points and five rebounds, whil eBlanc finished with 13 points and six rebounds, Williams posted 10 points for Young harris.
