GREENWOOD – Nigel Colvin scored 20 points while Inady Legiste posted a double-double as the Lander Bearcats began the new year with an 84-76 Peach Belt Conference victory over USC Aiken Wednesday night at Horne Arena.

Lander improved to 9-2 overall, 1-0 in the Peach Belt. The Pacers fell to 9-2, 0-1.

Colvin made four 3-pointers in the first half on his way to a team-high in points. Legiste added 18 points on six of nine shooting from the floor while leading the Bearcats with 10 rebounds.

Torrin Andrews scored 13 points for Lander, making five of six shots. Connor McKay contributed 10 points on four of five shooting, six rebounds and two blocked shots for the Bearcats.

Phillip Burwell also had a big all-around game for Lander with eight points and seven rebounds while leading both sides with nine assists.

USC Aiken's Tehree Horn led all scorers with 23 points on nine of 14 shooting. Jalen McCoy scored 18 points on eight of 12 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds for the Pacers. 

Tyler Johnson had a big second half for USC Aiken, finishing with 17 points.

The Bearcats made 31 of 58 shots from the floor (53 percent) while out-rebounding the visitors 41-35. The Pacers made 27 of 71 shots (38 percent).

Andrews scored twice to help stake Lander to a 6-0 lead. After USC Aiken tied it at 7-all, the Bearcats stormed back ahead 12-7 on Legiste's 3-pointer from the top of the key with 15:16 left in the opening half.

Colvin's 3-pointer from the right corner increased Lander's lead to 17-11 with 11:16 to go.

Colvin's 3-pointer from the opposite corner, Legiste's bucket in the paint, and Noah Dunn's trey from the right wing gave the Bearcats their first double-digit lead at 25-15 with 6:43 left.

Colvin's third trey of the half gave Lander a 34-24 advantage with 3:12 to go.

McKay got open for a layup and Colvin swished his fourth 3-pointer as the Bearcats led 41-27 with 30 seconds left. 

Lander took a 41-29 lead into the intermission, making 16 of 30 shots from the floor (53 percent) in the first half.

Burwell scored twice as the Bearcats opened the second half with six unanswered points, building their lead to 47-29 with 17:11 left.

Legiste made a trey from the left wing, giving Lander a 52-37 advantage with 14:45 to go.

Simeon German's 3-pointer cut USC Aiken's deficit to 54-42 at the 13-minute mark. The Bearcats answered when McKay blocked a shot, leading to a breakaway bucket by Colvin making it 56-42 with 11:52 left.

Dunn's transition 3-pointer upped the Lander lead to 61-47 with 9:03 to go. McKay's driving scoop layup made it 63-47 with 7:31 left.

Horn's pull-up 3-pointer pulled the Pacers within 63-52 with 6:19 to go.

Legiste and Andrews hit 3-pointers for the Bearcats, whose lead grew to 16 points at 71-55. But Johnson hit three treys to keep USC Aiken in the game, helping close the visitors within 71-61 with 3:49 left.

Johnson's two free throws pulled the Pacers within single digits at 73-64 with 2:13 to go. But Tommy Moore hit an open 3-pointer, a shot that bounced off the rim three times before falling in, as the Bearcat lead grew to 76-64 with 1:34 left.

Rideout's 3-pointer cut USC Aiken's deficit to 78-72 with 28 seconds left. Ajang Aguek and McKay responded with two free throws apiece to help Lander finally put the Pacers away.