GREENWOOD – Noah Dunn led five double-figure scorers with 16 points as the Lander Bearcats handed North Georgia only its second loss of the season, 76-75, in Peach Belt Conference action Saturday afternoon at Horne Arena.
Lander led by as many as 21 points before the Nighthawks made it a one-possession game in the final minute with a couple chances to tie.
The Bearcats improved to 10-3 overall, 2-1 in the Peach Belt. North Georgia fell to 10-2, 3-1.
Jacob Cooper scored 15 points for Lander while Jared Sherfield had a strong all-around game with 13 points while pacing the Bearcats with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Chandler Lindsey scored 12 points for Lander while Dominic Stanford added 10 points.
Frank Champion paced the Nighthawks with a double-double, scoring 14 points while leading the visitors with 14 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.
Greg Billups Jr. also scored 14 points for North Georgia. AJ White added 13 points and Case Roach 10 points for the Nighthawks.
The Bearcats twice trailed by five early in the game before they exploded on a game-changing 22-3 run.
Lander was trailing 15-10 when Dunn knocked down a 3-pointer, Cooper made a tough layup to tie the game, and Sherfield swished a 3-pointer to give the Blue and Gold its first lead at 18-15 with 11:12 left in the opening half.
Dunn made one of two free throws, added a 3-pointer from the top of the key, then collected a steal, made a layup, was fouled and converted a three-point play making it 25-15 to complete a 15-0 Bearcat run.
Ajang Aguek made a slam dunk while Lindsey hit four of four free throws including two when the North Georgia coach was whistled for a technical foul as Lander scored seven more unanswered for a 32-17 lead.
Dunn made a long 3-pointer giving the Bearcats a 39-23 advantage at the four-minute mark.
Lander made no more field goals the rest of the first half, but Cooper was fouled attempting a 3-point shot at the buzzer and made three of three free throws for a 44-29 halftime lead.
The Bearcat lead grew to 21 in the opening three minutes of the second half. Lindsey made a 3-pointer, Sherfield lobbed the ball to Stanford for a dunk, and Sherfield made a 3 from the right side making it 52-31 with 17:28 left.
The Nighthawks went on a 10-2 run to pull within 57-44. Dunn's 3-pointer from the right wing gave Lander a 60-44 lead with 12:25 to go.
Lindsey swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key, giving the Bearcats a 65-50 lead just inside the 10-minute mark.
North Georgia scored nine unanswered points as the visitors pulled within single digits. White's two free throws pulled the Nighthawks within 65-59 with 7:21 left.
Tommy Moore's 3-pointer ended the run as Lander led 68-59 with 6:43 to go.
Champion's basket in the lane cut North Georgia's deficit to 70-65 with 3:51 left.
Sherfield drove through traffic for a layup, extending the Bearcats lead to 73-67 with 2:13 to go. Cooper found Stanford wide open under the basket for a layup as Lander was up 75-69 at the 1:19 mark.
Hunter Shedenhelm made a 3-pointer from the left corner as the Nighthawks were within one possession for the first time since midway through the first half, making it 75-72 with 59 seconds to go.
The Bearcats committed a traveling violation, giving North Georgia a shot to tie. Shedenhelm took a 3-point attempt that bounced off the side of the rim, rebounded by Lander. But the Bearcats turned the ball over again and then the Nighthawks missed yet another 3 attempt, this by Cayden Charles, with 20 seconds to go. Again, Lander got the rebound but could not secure the ball.
With a third opportunity to tie, this time it was North Georgia turning the ball over by stepping out of bounds. Cooper made one of two free throws giving the Bearcats a four-point lead.
The Nighthawks missed their third 3-point attempt of the final minute before White's 3-pointer at the buzzer left North Georgia one point short.
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