GREENWOOD - David Pruett netted a game-high 18 points and Calvin Liptrot added 17 to lead the Lander men's basketball team to a 68-54 non-conference game over Erskine College Saturday afternoon in Horne Arena.
Lander remains unbeaten at 3-0, while Erskine is winless at 0-3.
Pruett connected on 6-of-15 field goals, including four threes, and also made a pair of free throws, to pace the Bearcats. Jermel Kennedy added a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Darion Canty scored 12. Tovi Bailey added six assists in the win.
Erskine was led by Chris Gore's 13 points and 14 rebounds. Filip Pejovic added 12 points and DeShaun Hall 10.
The Flying Fleet took an early 5-0 lead on a field goal and a three by Hall, but Lander rallied to tie the score at 7-7 at the 13:28 mark on a Quentin Bastian shot. Lander took its first lead at 9-7 on a Kennedy dunk at 13:03.
John Michael Smith scored back-to-back three pointers to give the Fleet a 16-13 advantage at 10:26, but Lander retook the lead at 9:25 when Liptrot's two free throws made it 17-16.
The Bearcats, who never trailed the remainder of the game, finished the half on a 15-9 run and held a 32-25 lead at intermission.
Lander earned its first double-digit lead at 38-28 with 16:23 remaining in the game on a pair of Kennedy free throws. The Bearcats followed with a 12-4 run and took a 50-32 advantage with 11:58 left on back-to-back three pointers by Liptrot and Pruett.
Pruett gave Lander its biggest lead of the game at 22 points (66-44) on a Kennedy jumper.
Lander connected on 25-of-66 field goals for 37.9 percent, including 7-of-32 threes for 21.9 percent. The Bearcats also made 11-of-15 free throws for 73.3 percent.
Erskine was 19-of-51 from the field for 37.3 percent, including 5-of-17 from the three-point line for 29.4 percent. The Flying Fleet made 11-of-14 free throws for 78.6 percent.
Lander outrebounded Erskine, 42-34.
The Bearcats will host UNC Pembroke in their Peach Belt Conference opener on Tuesday, Nov. 23 in Horne Arena. The women's game will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the men following at 7:30.
