SAVANNAH, Ga. – For the second time in three days, the Lander men's basketball team took a conference foe to overtime. This time, the Bearcats came out on top.

JR Washington scored 16 of his 27 points in extra time as Lander outlasted Armstrong State in a 95-91 double-overtime thriller on Wednesday night.

The Bearcats improved to 10-13 overall and 7-7 in the PBC. Armstrong fell to 10-14, (5-10).

Washington's 27 points and 11 rebounds led the Bearcats, while Jarryd Coleman pumped in 17 on the night. Chris Tate tied his career high with 16 points.

Corey Tillery and Kalen Clifton each netted 18 points for the Pirates, while Denzel Council scored 17 points.

The Bearcats made 32-of-71 shots from the floor (45.1 percent), 22-of-34 free throws (64.7 percent) and 9-of-30 from three-point range (30 percent).

Armstrong hit 32-of-82 shots (39 percent), 17-of-22 free throws (77.3 percent) and 10-of-33 from behind the arc (30.3 percent) while out-rebounding Lander 49-45.

With Lander down 69-66 with 43 seconds to play, Rahu Purdie drained a three-pointer, his only field goal of the night, to force overtime. 

A Telvin Gabriel layup gave Lander a 74-71 lead with 3:31 left in the first overtime period, but the Pirates went on a 7-0 run to take a 78-74 lead with 2:13 to go. That's when Washington went to work. The senior knocked down a pair of free throws, then stole the ball and was fouled, leading to two more free throws that tied the game at 78-78 with 1:31 to play.

Council made a layup to put the Pirates back in front, but Washington answered with a layup of his own to tie the game with 52 seconds left in overtime. Off another Pirate turnover, Washington buried a three to put Lander ahead with 34 seconds left, but Clifton responded with trey to tie the game and force a second overtime session.

With 1:30 to go in the second overtime, another layup from Washington gave the Bearcats a 90-89 lead. Council missed a layup on the other end and Washington found his way to the rim again to increase the lead to 92-89 with 21 seconds left. 

After a layup from Logan Ballard cut the lead to 92-91 with four seconds left, Jarryd Coleman made one of two free throws to make it a two-point game. Armstrong had one final chance, but Washington stole the ball and was fouled. His two ensuing free throws clinched the 95-91 win.