AUGUSTA, Ga. – Lander's Dermaine Smith had an outstanding individual effort that kept the Bearcats in the game, but it was teammates David Pruett and Jareal Smith who came through with the big shots at the end.

After Pruett's 3-pointer tied the game at 56 with 1:10 to go, Lander got a turnover on the defensive end leading to Jareal Smith's game-winning baseline jumper with eight seconds left giving the Bearcats a 58-56 Peach Belt Conference victory over Augusta State University Wednesday night at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Lander trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and faced a five-point deficit with less than three minutes to go in the game.

The Bearcats improved to 8-15 overall and 3-13 in the Peach Belt. Augusta fell to 12-11, 7-9. The teams split the season series.

Dermaine Smith made 13 of 18 shots from the floor (72 percent) and scored 27 points, including a stretch that spanned the last six minutes of the first half into the opening minute of the second half when he outscored the Jaguars 13-0 all by himself.

Pruett added 10 points for Lander while Jareal Smith was held to six points, but made the winning basket while adding seven assists and five rebounds. Scott Elder led the Bearcats with six rebounds.

Devonte Thomas paced Augusta with 18 points, D'Angelo Boyce scored all 12 of his points in the second half and finished with a double-double with 11 assists, and Travis Keels added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.

The Bearcats made 23 of 44 shots from the floor (52 percent), eight of nine free throws (89 percent), and four of 13 from 3-point range (31 percent).

Augusta made 21 of 41 shots from the field (51 percent), four of six free throws (67 percent) and 10 of 22 from behind the arc (45 percent).

Lander had a 25-19 edge on the boards.

Augusta had an 11-3 run during the middle of the first half to extend a 10-6 lead to 21-9 with 6:21 left. Carlos Trotty's 3-pointer was the only points for Lander during that six-minute stretch.

But the Bearcats closed the first half strong, shutting Augusta out the final six-plus minutes and pulled within 21-18 at the break with a 9-0 run. Dermaine Smith scored all nine of those points in the paint.

Smith carried his momentum into the second half with a layup and dunk in the opening minutes, giving him 13 consecutive Lander points and the team a 22-21 lead. Pruett's layup and Jareal Smith's free throws gave the Bearcats leads of 24-22 and 26-24.

Lander answered Thomas's go-ahead 3-pointer with baskets by Elder, Dermaine Smith and Pruett for a 32-27 advantage at the 16-minute mark.

Chidozie Omile's 3 gave the Bearcats a 35-30 lead with 14:50 to go and Dermaine Smith's dunk upped the advantage to seven, their largest lead of the game.

But Smith was called for a technical for hanging on to the rim, and the Jaguars took advantage with five points, all by Thomas who hit two technical free throws and a 3 to pull the hosts within 37-35.

After Smith scored yet again, Ryan Weems hit a 3 to close Augusta within 39-38 with 10:28 left.

Lander's Omile and Augusta's Thomas exchanged 3-pointers and the Bearcats were still ahead 42-41 at the media timeout inside the 10-minute mark.

After Jareal Smith scored for Lander, Boyce hit a 3 to tie the game at 44-all with 8:48 left.

Dermaine Smith responded again, scoring twice including an acrobatic layup that put the Bearcats up 48-44 inside the seven-minute mark. But the Jaguars stayed close, pulling within one on another Boyce trey.

Augusta took its first lead since the beginning of the second half when Boyce hit his third 3, putting the Jaguars up 50-48 with 5:50 left.

Thomas hit a 3, staking Augusta to a 53-48 lead inside the four-minute mark.

Pruett was fouled outside the arc as the shot clock was winding down and made all three free throws, pulling Lander within 53-51 with 2:55 left.

But Boyce scored another three points, this time on an old-fashioned three-point play, giving the Jaguars a 56-51 advantage with 2:20 to go.

Dermaine Smith struck again, making a layup to close the Bearcats within 56-53 with 1:51 left.

Augusta ran down the shot clock but Lander got a defensive stop, then Pruett hit a 3 to tie the game at 56 with 1:10 to go.

The Jaguars again milked the shot clock, but Weems turned the ball over and Dermaine Smith came up with it in the middle of the Augusta lane.

Lander wound the shot clock down, then Jareal Smith drove the baseline and swished a jumper inside 10 seconds left for what proved to be the game winner.

Boyce missed a shot at the other end and Keels got the offensive rebounds, but the Jaguars could not convert as the clock ran out.