GREENWOOD----While the Lander men's basketball team has used it's outside shooting talents to win 17 games this season, it was the Bearcats' inside tandem of Emanuel Hodrea and Scottie Smith, along with some key points from Michael Griffin in the final minute, that won the 18th and sent them to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference basketball tournament Friday night at Horne Arena.

Hodrea and Smith scored 19 and 14 points respectively to help lead Lander to an 83-81 quarterfinal victory against Columbus State University. Lander will face Armstrong Atlantic at 8 p.m., Saturday in Horne Arena. The other semifinal pits Clayton State against Augusta State. The championship game, with an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament at stake, is set for 4:30 Sunday.

The Bearcats improve to 18-10, the most victories for a Lander team since they went 21-9 in 1999-2000.

Griffin, who scored 22 points to lead the Bearcats, scored two free throws on an intentional foul with 50 seconds left in the game to tie CSU 80-80. On the ensuing possession, Griffin was fouled again, but made only one of the two shots for an  81-80 lead with 21 seconds left.

Lander's Jason Davis then stole the ball from Ron Robinson with four seconds left and dished the ball off to Griffin who made a layup and gave the Bearcats an 83-80 lead.

On the Cougars final possession, Lander's Zach Evans fouled D.J. Chandler, who made one of the two shots.

Columbus, which finishes the season at 17-12, was led by Robinson's game-high 33 points. Robinson made 12-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-8 three pointers. Sean Miller scored 13 points for CSU and Corris Portis added 11 points and nine rebounds.

CSU made 27-of-56 field goals for 48.2 percent, 14-of-31 three pointers for 45.2 percent and 13-of-19 free throws for 68.4 percent.

Lander made 30-of-69 field goals for 43.5 percent, 8-of-29 three-pointers for 27.6 percent and 15-of-23 free throws for 65.2 percent.