MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia College men's basketball team thwarted a late Lander rally Saturday afternoon to claim a 71-68 Peach Belt Conference victory at the Centennial Center.

Georgia College improves to 11-7 overall and 4-5 in the PBC, while Lander slips to 12-6, 5-5.

Lander placed five players in double figures led by Corey Wright's 17 points and seven assists. Dwight Tolbert added 16 points, Jermel Kennedy 12 points and seven rebounds, Darion Canty 11 points and 11 rebounds, and David Pruett 10 points and six rebounds.

Georgia College's Mike Augustine netted a team-high 17 points and was followed by Ryan Aquino's 16 points, Ryan Lively's 12 points and Jared Holmes' 10 points and nine rebounds.

After a very tight first 13 minutes of the game, Georgia College took a 28-18 lead with 5:47 left in the half on an Aaron Robinson jumper. The Bobcats stretched the margin to 35-24 with 1:20 left on Aquino's three. However, Lander cut the halftime margin to 35-28 on a free throw by Canty and a Tolbert three.

Lander trimmed the Bobcats' lead to one point at 46-45 on a Pruett three with 12:17 left in the game, but Georgia College held the Bearcats at bay for the remainder of the contest.

The Bearcats connected on 22-of-54 field goals for 40.7 percent, including 6-of-20 threes for 53.8 percent. Lander sank 18-of-25 free throws for 72 percent.

Georgia College was 24-of-61 from the floor for 39.3 percent, including 7-of-13 threes for 53.8 percent. The Bobcats made 18-of-25 foul shots for 76.2 percent.

The Bearcats, who trailed 35-28 at halftime, outrebounded Georgia College, 39-37.