GREENWOOD – Francis Marion used a late 22-10 run to defeat the Lander Bearcats 69-66 in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Horne Arena.
The Patriots improved to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the Peach Belt. Lander fell to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference. The Bearcats committed 19 turnovers and allowed Francis Marion to collect 10 offensive rebounds.
Michael Carter led the Patriots with 16 points, Raymond Dorsey scored 15 points, and George Walker added 14 points.
Scotty Smith and Jahi Rawlings led Lander with 14 points apiece while Jarred Jackson added 10 points. Rawlings (pictured) made 4-of-7 from 3-point range while Derek Brooks made 3-of-6 from behind the arc to finish with nine points. The Bearcats had a good shooting day from 3-point range, making 11-of-29 (38 percent).
The Bearcats managed to extend a 41-39 lead to 53-47 midway through the second half on two 3-pointers by Rawlings, and one apiece by Emanuel Hodrea and Jason Davis.
But Vony Rivers, who had an off night with five points or 10 points below his season average, hit a 3-pointer to pull Francis Marion within 55-54, and Dorsey's offensive rebound and basket tied the game at 56 with 5:17 to go.
Michael Jenkins hit a 3-pointer to give the Patriots the lead for good at 59-56 with 4:55 left.
Michael Griffin's 3-pointer pulled Lander within 63-61 with 2:11 to go, but Akeene Coakley made his first two free throws of the season for a 65-61 Francis Marion lead at 1:39. Rawlings scored inside to pull the Bearcats within 65-63 with 1:10 to go. But Dorsey and Walker made two free throws apiece to extend the lead to 69-63. Brooks made a 3-pointer with five seconds left for the final margin.
Lander got off to a good start, getting two 3-pointers from Brooks and one by Rawlings to take a 20-12 lead midway through the first half. The Bearcats made 12-of-25 shots from the floor (48 percent) and took a 34-28 halftime lead. Francis Marion heated up after a slow start, hitting 10-of-28 shots (36 percent) including Dorsey's 4-for-4 effort.
For the game, Lander made 23-of-51 shots from the floor (45 percent) and 9-of-13 from the free-throw line (69 percent). The Patriots hit 22-of-53 shots (42 percent), 18-of-24 from the line (75 percent), and 7-of-23 from behind the arc (30 percent). The Bearcats had a 34-32 edge on the boards.
