FLORENCE - Despite leading almost the entire game, the Lander men's basketball team lost for the tenth straight time when Francis Marion's Clayton Williams sank the game-winning free throw with 32 seconds left to play in the Patriots 77-76 Peach Belt Conference victory Saturday afternoon at the Smith University Center.

Francis Marion improves to 9-10 overall and 4-8 in the PBC, while Lander drops to 6-14, 1-12.

The Bearcats had three opportunities to win the game in the final 16 seconds as Dermaine Smith and David Pruett both missed a pair of free throws and Jareal Smith was off on a layup.

Darius Carrier led Lander with 22 points, while Jareal Smith added 13 points, Dermaine Smith recorded a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds, and Pruett netted 15 points.

Francis Marion's Evrik Gary scored a game-high 31 points, while Tyler Deihl had 11 points, and Antonio Freeman nine points and 11 rebounds.

After four first-half ties, Lander built up a nine-point lead when it took a 35-26 advantage with 1:54 left in the half on a pair of Pruett free throws.

Pruett gave the Bearcats its first double-figure lead on the Bearcats opening possession in the second half when he dunked the ball at 19:51.

After twice leading by 12 points (41-29 and 43-31), the Patriot went on a 10-2 run to cut the margin to 45-41 on a three by Diehl with 16:34 left to play.

However Carlos Trotty nailed a three and Pruett put in a layup to put the Bearcats up 50-41 at 15:28.

FMU responded with a Williams' three and Freeman layup to cut it back to 50-46 at 14:33.

The Bearcats maintained a single-digit lead until Gary tied the game at 76-all on a jumper with 56 seconds left in the game.

Francis Marion connected on 26-of-54 floor shots (48.1 percent), including 8-of-25 threes (32 percent) and 17-of-21 free throws (81 percent).

Lander, which led 37-29 at halftime, made 29-of-57 field goals (50.9 percent), including 5-of-16 threes (31.3 percent) and 13-of-21 foul shots (61.9 percent).

Lander outrebounded the Patriots, 33-25.