GREENWOOD – The third-seeded Lander men's basketball team got 21 points from Tyler Brevard as the Bearcats rallied from a 16-point deficit to win the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship, beating fifth-seeded Columbus State 76-73 Sunday afternoon at Horne Arena.

Lander (23-8) earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament which starts later this week.

The Bearcats outscored Columbus State 49-33 in the second half.

Lander appeared more aggressive driving to the basket in the second half when the team made 19 of 32 shots (59 percent) from the floor.  The Bearcats were just 10 of 27 (37 percent) shooting in the opening half.

The Cougars ended their season at 18-13. They beat fourth seed USC Aiken and top seed and regular season champion UNC Pembroke on their way to the final.

The Bearcats were picked ninth in the preseason PBC coaches poll but finished third in the regular season standings, winning a school-record 14 league games under first-year head coach Drew Richards.

Lander swept Flagler, Georgia College and Columbus State to win its first league championship since 2016. The players celebrated with PBC champions T-shirts and a team picture, and then players and coaches cut down the nets on their home floor.

Brevard won PBC Tournament MVP, delivering big again in Sunday's title game with 21 points on eight of 12 shooting from the floor. The senior transfer from Erskine scored 25 in Saturday's semifinal victory.

DaJuan Moorer added 15 points while sharing Lander team-high honors with nine rebounds. Moorer hit seven of 10 shots and joined Brevard on the All-Tournament team.

Elijah Alston scored all 12 of his points in the second half for the Bearcats.

Deon Berrien scored all 10 of his points in the second half and also grabbed nine rebounds while leading Lander with four assists.

All-Tournament player Landrius Horton led the Cougars with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 boards. His game-winning 3-pointer on Saturday put Columbus State in the final.

Bryant Givens added 16 points while leading the Cougars with seven assists. Hunter Preston scored 12 points and also made All-Tournament.

Sidney Robinson's 3 gave Lander a 10-8 advantage four minutes into the game, but it would be the team's last lead in a long while.

The Cougars went on a 21-3 run led by Horton's seven points and Hunter's three baskets. Horton's two free throws capped the run, giving Columbus State a 29-13 advantage with 8:41 to go.

The Bearcats got as close as 11 on Brevard's free throw that made it 34-23 with 3:18 left. They had an opportunity to pull within single digits but could not convert.

The Cougars led 40-27 at halftime on 16 of 31 shooting (52 percent).

Lander climbed within 10 four times early in the second half and finally got within single digits, 49-41, on Moorer's dunk with 15:37 left. Moorer's put-back pulled the Bearcats within six at the 15-minute mark.

Brevard's two free throws cut Lander's deficit to 51-47 with 12:39 left.

Horton's layup put Columbus State back in front by double digits at 60-49 with 9:25 to go. But back came Lander.

Alston made a put-back three-point play and another basket while Brevard added a steal and layup, pulling the Bearcats within 60-59 with 6:43 left.

After Givens hit a 3 for the Cougars, LaRaymond Spivery's three-point play cut Lander's deficit back to one. Then Berrien's basket gave the Bearcats their first lead since early in the game, 64-63, with five minutes to go.

Berrien's 3 from the right side gave Lander a 72-68 advantage with 2:37 left.

Horton scored to pull Columbus State within 72-70 with 2:16 left. But the Cougars would not score again until there were just three seconds to go.

Brevard hit one of two free throws with 40 seconds to go, Alston hit two free throws with 29 seconds left, and Berrien made one of two with eight seconds left to give the Bearcats a 76-70 lead.

Robert Davis Jr.'s trey with three seconds left kept the Cougars in the game. Lander missed two free throws with two seconds to go but Columbus State could not get a shot off.

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