GREENWOOD – Noah Dunn scored 19 points as the Lander Bearcats made 16 shots from behind the arc, pulling away from Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State 86-51 Wednesday night at Horne Arena.

Lander improved to 13-4 overall, 5-2 in the Peach Belt. The Cougars fell to 9-8, 2-5.

The Bearcats swept the season series, having won 74-59 at Columbus, Ga., on Dec. 15, 2022.

Dunn hit six of eight shots from the floor, including four of five from behind the arc to pace Lander.

Jared Sherfield scored 15 points on four of five shooting for the Blue and Gold, including three of four from long range.

Jaylon Pugh added 14 points for the Bearcats. Jacob Cooper paced Lander with six assists while Ajang Aguek was the team's top rebounder with six.

Demierre Black paced the Cougars with 12 points while their leading scorer on the season Nelson Haskin was held to nine points. Jehloni James was the top rebounder for Columbus with seven.

Lander shot 49 percent from behind the 3-point line, nailing 16 of 33.

The Bearcats missed five consecutive 3-point attempts to start the game before Sherfield finally hit one from the right corner to get the hosts on the board.

Pugh and Dunn made two 3-pointers apiece while Aguek added another as Lander led 22-15 midway through the first half.

The Bearcats increased their lead into double digits at 31-21 with five minutes to go after Tommy Moore hit a trey from the right wing and Pugh followed with a 3-pointer from the right corner.

Pugh dribbled around the defense and laid the ball high off the glass for a layup, upping Lander's advantage to 38-23 with 3:35 left.

Dominic Stanford nailed the 10th Bearcat 3-pointer of the game and then after Sherfield collected a steal, Stanford on the fast break flipped a sideways lob pass to Aguek for a slam dunk and a 20-point lead, 43-23, with 2:06 to go.

Lander led 43-25 at halftime.

Sherfield's left corner 3-pointer gave the Bearcats a 51-36 lead with 15:58 left in the game.

Lander's advantage grew back to 20 when Moore hit a 3-pointer, making it 58-38 with 13 minutes to go. Pugh hit an open 3-pointer from the left wing, increasing the lead to 63-38 with 11:43 left.

Aguek's dunk off an interior pass from Cooper gave Lander a 69-42 advantage with 9:10 to go.

The Bearcats took their first 30-point lead when Dunn's 3-pointer bounced around the rim and dropped in, making it 74-44 with 6:05 left.

Dunn made Lander's 15th trey of the game, giving the Blue and Gold a 79-46 lead with 4:33 to go. Sebastian Augustave joined the 3-point party as the lead grew to 35 points at 82-47 with 3:31 left.

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