GREENWOOD – Nigel Colvin went 7-for-7 from behind the 3-point arc while Jacob Cooper added 18 points during an impressive 40-13 game-ending run as the Lander Bearcats pulled away from Young Harris 83-53 in Peach Belt Conference action Wednesday night at Horne Arena.
Lander was leading only 43-40 before going on a game-ending tear, making 14 of 17 shots from the floor during the 11-minute run. Colvin (21) and Cooper (18) amazingly combined for 39 of the 40 points; Ajang Aguek had the only other point with a free throw. Cooper had four assists during the run.
The Bearcats improved to 20-7 overall, 12-5 in the Peach Belt.
The Mountain Lions fell to 19-8, 9-8.
Lander is just one game out of first place in the PBC, trailing only North Georgia, Augusta and USC Aiken (all 13-4) as the four teams jockey for position going into the conference tournament.
The Blue and Gold's final regular season game is Saturday afternoon at Flagler in St. Augustine, Fla.
The Bearcats are ranked eighth in the NCAA Southeast Region poll, which is crucial for NCAA Tournament seedings. Young Harris is ranked seventh in the Southeast but will likely fall with the loss.
It was the last home game of the season for Lander, which honored Jared Sherfield, Jaylon Pugh and Chandler Lindsey on Senior Night.
But it was Colvin and Cooper who stole the show.
Colvin led the Bearcats with 24 points, making eight of 11 shots from the floor, all from 3-point range. He was a perfect 7-for-7 during the incredible run that stretched a three-point lead to 30.
Cooper finished with 21 points while leading Lander with six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Cooper scored 19 points in the second half and made eight of 10 shots from the floor.
Sherfield and Dominic Stanford tallied nine points apiece for Lander.
Eden Davis paced Young Harris with 15 points, Turahn Thompson scored 12 points, and Lenny Pradia led the way with six assists.
Lander only scored two baskets in the first 5:40 of the game but still led 6-5. Stanford opened the scoring with a driving dunk, Navaughn Maise hit one of two free throws, and Pugh drained a 3-pointer that started a 13-0 run.
Sherfield made a spin move in the lane for a layup, Stanford hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, Sherfield swished a trey from the right corner, and Cooper navigated through the lane for a bucket and a 16-5 Bearcat lead with 12:17 left in the opening half.
With the Mountain Lions mired in a 1-for-14 slump from the floor, Tommy Moore hit a 3-pointer from the left corner giving Lander a 24-8 advantage with 6:28 to go.
Young Harris broke out of its slump, making 3 of 3 shots during a 10-0 run to pull within 24-18 with 3:37 left on a Karl Chavis trey.
Pugh made a 3-pointer to end the run and Colvin's first trey of the game gave the Bearcats a 33-24 lead with one minute to go.
Moore's driving layup kept Lander's advantage at nine before the Mountain Lions scored at the buzzer to pull within 35-28 at the break.
Young Harris made its last seven shots in the first half including four 3-pointers to cut a 16-point deficit to seven.
The Mountain Lions continued their comeback into the second half, opening with an 8-2 run to close within 37-36 with 16:21 left.
Sherfield made a pair of free throws and Stanford added a layup, extending the Bearcat lead to 41-36.
Davis collected a steal and layup to cut the Young Harris deficit to 43-40 with 12:45 to go.
But Lander then caught fire.
Cooper went on an 8-2 personal run with a short jumper, two free throws, and drove twice past defenders for layups giving Lander a 51-42 advantage inside the 11-minute mark.
Colvin made a 3-pointer from the left side, Cooper collected a steal and layup, and then Cooper drove the baseline and found Colvin open for another trey as Lander led 59-46 with 7:53 left.
Colvin drilled his fourth trey of the game and Cooper swished a mid-range jumper as the Bearcat lead grew to 64-47 with 6:46 to go.
The advantage grew to 20 when Cooper hit a 3-pointer making it 67-47 with six minutes to go. One minute later, Colvin made yet another trey increasing the lead to 71-47.
Colvin was not done. He made his fifth 3 of the run upping the advantage to 74-48 with 4:18 left.
Colvin just couldn't stop. He made two more from beyond the arc and Cooper added one, extending the lead to 30.
Keep up to date with your Bearcats and never miss a moment of the action! Follow Lander athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for continued updates! #cLawsUp
