MORROW, Ga. - The Clayton State men's basketball team broke a 69-69 tie with 1:47 left to play then held off Lander to claim a 73-71 Peach Belt Conference victory Thursday night.

Clayton State improves to 16-7 overall and 7-5 in the PBC, while Lander falls to 9-13, 2-12.

David Pruett led Lander with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-17 field goals, including 5-of-12 three pointers and 3-of-4 free throws. Jermel Kennedy added a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, while Calvin Liptrot scored 11 points and Quentian Bastian grabbed 12 boards. Kennedy has 36 rebounds in his last two games.

Clayton State's Brandon Robinson and Torrin Greene scored 23 and 22 points respectively to lead the Lakers, while Timmy Downs added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Lander outrebounded Clayton State, 56-34.

With the scored tied at 69-all, Clayton's Greene added a jumper at 1:12, then Brandon Robinson made the first of two free throws for a 72-69 lead.

Bastian's layup cut the lead to 72-71 with eight seconds left. Lander was forced to foul and Zach Bradley made the first of two free throws for the game's final point.

Down 36-31 at halftime, Lander gradually battled back until Bastian tied the game at 47-47 on a pair of free throws with 13:06 remaining.

After the Lakers pulled out to a 54-50 lead, Pruett made two free throws and Kennedy had a tip-in to make it 54-all with 8:09 left.

The Bearcats took a 63-62 lead with 4:25 remaining on a Darius Carrier free throw at 4:25, then regained the lead at 65-64 with 3:45 left on a pair of Kennedy foul shots.

Lander kicked the game off with a pair of three pointers from Pruett, but Clayton State countered on both. Lander took its next lead at 11-9 on yet another Pruett three at 15:26.

After ties at 11-11 and 13-13, the Bearcats moved out to a 17-13 advantage on a Liptrot field goal and Kennedy dunk at 12:13.

The Lakers battled back to tie the game at 21-21 on a Greene three, then maintained a 36-31 halftime lead.

The Bearcats connected on 23-of-71 field goals for 32.4 percent, including 6-of-21 threes (28.6 percent). Lander also made 19-of-26 free throws for 73.1 percent.

Clayton State was 24-of-59 from the field for 40.7 percent, including 11-of-27 three pointers for 40.7 percent. The Lakers made 14-of-18 foul shots for 77.8 percent.