GREENWOOD – The Lander men's basketball team is looking forward to getting back on the court later this fall, as head coach Omar Wattad announced the 2021-22 schedule on Wednesday.

Lander begins the year with a pair of games in Anderson, S.C., as the Bearcats battle Southern Wesleyan on Nov. 12 before taking on Anderson on Nov. 13. The Blue and Gold face off with Southern Wesleyan shortly after at Finis Horne Arena on Nov. 17 for the first home game on the schedule. Lander follows things up with another home contest, this time with Savannah State making the trip to Greenwood on Nov. 20. This will mark the first time that Lander and Savannah State have seen each other for men's basketball. The month of November ends with the Bearcats facing a pair of CIAA opponents in Fayetteville State on Nov. 24 and Claflin on Nov. 29. The Bearcats will be making their first trip to Claflin since they won 72-65 on the road on Feb. 15, 1989.

December begins with the Lander Classic, as the Bearcats play host to Johnson C. Smith on Dec. 4 and Livingstone on Dec. 5. Georgia Southwestern will also be in attendance as the fourth team in the classic. Claflin pays Lander a visit on December 11 before Columbus State comes calling on Dec. 17 for the first Peach Belt Conference game of the season. Lander and Columbus State played to the final seconds last season, with the Cougars sinking a last-second jumper to take a 70-69 victory.

Former PBC foe UNC Pembroke rounds out the non-conference schedule for the Bearcats, with the Braves coming to Greenwood on Jan. 1. Lander returns to conference action with a pair of road games in USC Aiken on Jan. 5 and North Georgia on Jan. 8. The Blue and Gold return to Horne Arena for a pair of home games after that, with Augusta and Clayton State coming to battle on Jan. 12 and 15 respectively.

After the two-game home stand, the Bearcats hit the road for Georgia to face Columbus State, Georgia Southwestern and Clayton State on Jan. 19, 22 and 24. Lander returns home to host Georgia College on Jan. 26 before making its way to the Sunshine State to battle Flagler on Jan. 29. The Bearcats took No. 18 Flagler into overtime before falling 98-91.

The Palmetto State calls once more, with the Blue and Gold hosting Young Harris and USC Aiken on Feb. 2 and 5 before making the short trip to Augusta on Feb. 9.

The last four games of the season see the Bearcats bouncing back and forth between Horne Arena and the road, starting with North Georgia traveling to face Lander on Feb. 12. The Blue and Gold travel next to Georgia College on Feb. 16 before taking on Georgia Southwestern on Feb. 19 in Greenwood. Young Harris hosts the Bearcats on Feb. 23 before Flagler comes to Greenwood on Feb. 26 to round out the regular season.

The PBC Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 1, with the finals set for March 5.

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