AIKEN, S.C. – Riding a five-game winning streak, the Lander men's basketball team couldn't extend its winning ways after falling to USC Aiken 74-73 in overtime.
Zane Rankin led the Bearcats in scoring with 15 points on a 6-of-14 shooting night. He also hauled in five rebounds and had one assist and one steal. Jared Sherfield, DaJuan Moorer, Nigel Colvin and Martin Vogts all joined Rankin in double figures for scoring on the night.
Lander drops to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the PBC while USC Aiken moves to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in the PBC.
Neither team was able to find much offense in the first half of play, with the Bearcats taking a 28-23 edge into the break.
Both sides didn't shoot the long ball very well in the first frame as well, with the Bearcats going 2-of-12 and Aiken shooting 1-of-13.
Lander did start the game on a 7-2 run that saw the first five points go to the Bearcats. Colvin started things off with a layup while Jared Sherfield found his first two points with a layup of his own shortly after with 18:42 remaining.
The Bearcats would take a lead as large as 12 in the first half when Rankin sprinted down the floor on a fast break with 2:46 left to make it 26-14. The Pacers wouldn't go quietly, as they established a 9-2 run to close out the half and make it a 28-23 game.
Sherfield would score 12 of his 14 points on the night in the second half as the Bearcats and Pacers dug in. Aiken and Lander would trade baskets until the game was tied 39-39 with 13:23 left in the second half. Neither side would be able to establish a lead larger than four, as both sides would take turns tied or leading.
Down 65-64, the Bearcats would take a late lead with 14 seconds remaining after Vogts cut through the Pacer defense and dropped in a shot in the paint while drawing a foul to give Lander a 67-65 lead. The Pacers would counter with a last-second inbounds pass that was floated in with just over a second remaining to tie the game at 67 and force overtime.
Aiken came out firing, scoring the first five points of the overtime period before jumpers from LaRaymond Spivery and Rankin made it a 72-71 Pacer game. Although getting the game to 74-73 Aiken on another jumper from Rankin with 21 seconds left, the Bearcats were unable to overtake the Pacers.
Lander continues conference play with a trip to North Georgia on Saturday, January 8 at 3:30 pm.

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