SPARTANBURG----USC Upstate's Jay Free led all scorers with 19 points, reaching double figures in his fifth straight game, to lead USC Upstate to a 70-48 victory over Lander Monday night in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action in the Hodge Center.

USC Upstate improves to 15-9 overall and 10-8 in the Peach Belt.  Lander falls to 7-18 overall and 4-14 in the league.  The Bearcats host Georgia College & State University Wednesday night at 7:30 in Greenwood.

Lander jumped out quickly as a cold shooting USC Upstate squad missed its first four shots and turned the ball over three times in the first four minutes of the game.  The slow start enabled Lander to open a 9-0 run to start the game and gave the Bearcats thoughts of sweeping the season series from USC Upstate.

However, the Spartans settled down and used a 13-2 run to take a 13-11 lead with 11:51 to go before the half.  Free started the run with a three-pointer and ended the spurt with a three-pointer.  After Lander tied the game at 13-13, USC Upstate went on an 18-4 run to open a 31-17 lead with 3:11 to go in the half and went into the intermission with a 40-23 lead. In the second half, USC Upstate used a 13-3 run to open its largest lead of the game, 27 points, with 13:07 to play and cruised the rest of the way home.

Free finished the game with a game-high 19 points and four rebounds.  Daniel Quinlan matched Free with four three-pointers and finished with 17 points off the bench.  Ivica Grgurovic had a strong game, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

Zoran Jalenic led Lander with 11 points off the bench.  He also pulled down seven rebounds and came away with two steals.  Emanuel Hodrea added eight points for the Bearcats.