ANDERSON - Despite placing three players in double figures, Lander's Jeff Burkhamer Era got off to a rough start Saturday as the Anderson University men's basketball team rallied in the final minutes to defeat Lander, 93-84, in the season-opening, non-conference contest.

Anderson improves to 2-0 overall, while Lander is 0-1.

Senior Darius Johnson, who was 9-of-15 from the field, led the Bearcats with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Brenton Harris posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, and DaShon Barrino chipped in 19 points.

Anderson's Nick Trull and Kevis Cornwell scored 26 and 24 points respectively, while Taylor Shugart added 12 points and Stephen Cobb 11. Cobb, Shugart and Trull also grabbed six rebounds each.

Lander, which trailed 49-47 at halftime, connected on 32-of-70 floor shots for 45.7 percent, including 2-of-14 threes for 14.3 percent. The Bearcats also made 18-of-28 free throws for 64.3 percent.

Anderson was 34-of-60 from the field for 56.7 percent, including 5-of-17 threes for 29.4 percent. The Trojans were 20-of-32 from the free throw line for 62.5 percent.

Lander broke a 74-74 tie with 3:41 left in the game when Barrino sank a pair of free throws to give Lander a 76-74 lead. Anderson responded with a Tony Anderson field goal and a three-point play by Trull to take a 78-76 lead at 3:16.

A pair of field goals by Shugart gave Anderson an 82-76 lead at 2:01, before Lander countered with a bucket by Barrino.

The Bearcats were forced to foul in the final minute, but Anderson responded by going 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

The Trojans were up by as many as nine points in the first half when they led 44-35 with 3:41 left before intermission. Lander countered with a pair of Barrino field goals, two free throws by Harris and a two field goals and two free throws by Johnson to get back in the game and cut the margin to two points at halftime.

Lander will host Wingate at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, in Horne Arena in the Bearcats's home opener.