GREENWOOD – Tobiasz Hose scored 22 points as the nationally-ranked Lander men's basketball team continued its best start in program history, improving to 11-0 by surviving Southern Wesleyan University's relentless upset bid 70-66 Wednesday afternoon at Horne Arena.

The Bearcats, who were last ranked in 1999, are No. 16 in the D2SIDA Media Poll and No. 25 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Poll.

Hose made four of four free throws in the final 20 seconds as Lander turned back the very determined Warriors, who dropped to 3-8.

The Bearcats outscored Southern Wesleyan 30-7 from the free throw line. Lander outscored the Warriors 35-32 in the first half and 35-34 in the second half, taking a 40-10 lead in the all-time series between the two schools. LU has won 13 straight against the school from Central, S.C.

Hose had 22 points and nine rebounds, Bearcats teammate Ricardo Martin added 17 points and nine boards, and Scott Elder contributed a team-high 12 rebounds and six blocked shots. Kiair Crouch added eight points for Lander, JR Washington had a team-high five assists, and Marco Morales hit two big 3-pointers during a crucial run for the Bearcats.

Kenny Holmes (15 points, 10 assists) and Dwayne Bryant (12 points, 13 rebounds) had double doubles for Southern Wesleyan. Cameron Solomon added 11 points.

Lander made 18 of 64 shots from the floor (28 percent), 30 of 42 free throws (71 percent) and four of 19 from 3-point range (21 percent) while having a 44-41 edge on the boards.

The Warriors hit 27 of 58 shots (47 percent), seven of 10 free throws (70 percent) and five of 15 from behind the arc (33 percent) after a five-of-eight start.

Asger Hjorth's basket gave Lander a 15-8 lead with 11:33 left in the first half. But Southern Wesleyan climbed within 19-17 with 9:27 to go after Holmes made a 3 and also converted a three-point play, and Buster Walker added a 3.

The Bearcats scored 10 unanswered points over the next three minutes to build their lead to 29-17. Hose scored twice and Sergio Smith had three steals during the run.

Jamaral Kearse and Walker made 3s to help the Warriors pull within 30-25 at the five-minute mark. Holmes hit Southern Wesleyan's fifth 3 out of eight tries to cut the visitor deficit to 33-30 with three minutes left.

Solomon's put-back pulled the Warriors even closer at 34-32 with 1:20 to go. But Elder was fouled on his second blocked shot and ninth rebound, and made one of two free throws for the final point of the first half as Lander led 35-32 at the break.

The Bearcats missed their first 10 shots of the second half and Southern Wesleyan took full advantage, turning its three-point halftime deficit into a 39-35 lead with a 7-0 run. Holmes made a fast-break layup off a pass from Kearse, Holmes threw a long pass to Bryant for a go-ahead layup that turned into a three-point play, and Holmes added two free throws to make it 39-35 with 16:57 to go.

Hose's dunk off a Washington steal finally got the Bearcats on the scoreboard in the second half. But Solomon scored in the paint and Mike Lieberman made a fast-break layup to increase the Warriors lead to 43-37 with 14:35 left.

Martin scored on consecutive possessions to pull Lander within 43-41. But Bryant and Darius Sharpe made layups to increase Southern Wesleyan's lead back to six.

The Bearcats regained the lead with a 7-0 run as Morales hit a 3 from the left corner, Hose drove down the lane for a layup, and Hose added two free throws to put Lander up 48-47 with 10:55 left.

Walker's basket put the Warriors back on top, 49-48, with 10:24 to go. But Morales and Washington made 3s, and Martin swished two free throws to give the Bearcats a 56-49 lead with 8:38 left.

Bryant's pass inside to Lieberman pulled Southern Wesleyan within 58-55 at the five-minute mark. The Warriors grabbed a defensive rebound and had a chance to tie, but Elder stole the ball near the arc leading to Hose's second dunk of the game for a 60-55 advantage with 4:20 left.

Solomon's bucket pulled Southern Wesleyan within 60-57 with 3:39 to go, and the Warriors had three more shots to close within a point or tie but missed. Then Lander was able to stretch its lead with a big sequence at the two-minute mark. Crouch was fouled after a defensive rebound and made the first free throw but missed the second. However, Martin grabbed the offensive board, was fouled, and made both free throws for a 63-57 lead.

Sharpe's basket cut Southern Wesleyan's deficit to four and after a Bearcats turnover, Holmes missed a long 3-point attempt just inside the minute mark. Hose made a free throw to give the Bearcats a 64-59 lead with 38 seconds left, but Bryant's three-point play cut it to 64-62 with 32 seconds to go.

Washington made two free throws but Holmes drove the length of the court for a layup as the Warriors trailed 66-64 with 24 seconds left.

Hose added two free throws with 20 seconds to go. But Bryant put back Lieberman's missed shot to pull Southern Wesleyan back within two, then stole the ball with 12.8 seconds left.

Solomon missed a contested 3-point attempt in front of the Warriors bench and Hose got the defensive rebound and was fouled with just four seconds left. Hose made both free throws to clinch the win.