AIKEN, S.C. – JR Washington scored 21 points and Rahu Purdie added 20 as the Lander men's basketball team ended in-state rival USC Aiken's seven-game winning streak with an 85-76 upset win on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. 

Lander moves to 6-12 and 3-6 in the Peach Belt, while USC Aiken falls to 13-5, (7-4).

Lander led by as many as eight in the first half, but trailed 45-42 at the break. The Bearcats opened the second half with back-to-back three-pointers from Washington and Purdie to take a 48-45 lead at the 18:28 mark. 

The game featured eight ties over the next 10 minutes before three-pointers from Jarryd Coleman and Washington pushed the Bearcat lead to 72-64 with 6:19 to play. 

Lander put the game away by making 11-of-12 free throws over the final 5:05. 

The Bearcats connected on 28-of-64 floor shots for 43.8 percent, including 9-of-20 threes for 45 percent. The Bearcats made 20-of-26 free throws for 76.9 percent.

USCA netted 28-of-70 field goals for 40 percent, including 12-of-30 three pointers for 40 percent. The Pacers sank all eight of their free throw attempts.

Lander outrebounded USC Aiken, 41-39.

Lander returns home to host Francis Marion on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.