GREENWOOD –
Noah Dunn scored 14 points in the second half, rallying the Lander Bearcats past Peach Belt Conference rival Clayton State 62-57 Monday night at Horne Arena.
Lander improved to 9-5 overall, 3-1 in the Peach Belt. The Lakers fell to 6-8, 0-4.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved to Monday due to inclement weather in the region.
Dunn led all scorers with 19 points, hitting three go-ahead 3-pointers in the second half as well as converting a crucial three-point play.
Inady Legiste scored 16 points for the Bearcats while
Caleb Williams and
Torrin Andrews paced the Blue and Gold with nine rebounds apiece. Andrews and
Jeremiah Holloway led Lander with six assists apiece.
DJ Wright paced Clayton State with 16 points.
Legiste got off to a fast start with three baskets in the paint and a free throw, helping stake the Bearcats to an 11-6 lead. Clayton State missed eight of its first nine shots.
But the Lakers heated up in a hurry, making 11 of their next 13 shots during a 25-11 run. Aaron Pitts scored seven of the 25 points as Clayton State led 31-22 with 5:12 left in the opening half.
The Blue and Gold scored the final five points of the half highlighted by Dunn's three-point play to pull within 34-31 at the break.
Lander scored seven unanswered points to take a 38-36 lead with 15:53 left.
Greyson Pritzl swished a 3-pointer, Legiste tied the game with a layup, and Williams scored on a back-door layup off a pass from Pritzl.
Dunn knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, giving the Bearcats leads of 41-38 and 45-43.
Lander went more than five minutes without scoring again until Dunn made a mid-range jumper, pulling the hosts within 51-47 with 7:09 to go.
The Bearcats missed two 3-point attempts on one possession but got another offensive rebound, this time Legiste making a trey from the right corner pulling them within 53-50 with 5:49 left.
Andrews made a 3-pointer from the top of the key, Williams converted a game-tying layup, and Dunn swished another 3-pointer from the top of the key giving Lander a 58-55 advantage with 3:30 to go. It was Dunn's third go-ahead trey of the second half.
Dunn came up with a huge three-point play, driving for a tough layup and converting the free throw as the Bearcats led 61-57 with 2:12 left.
Clayton State missed a pair of 3-pointers and committed a turnover as the clock wound down under 50 seconds left. The Lakers missed another shot with 16 seconds to go and Pritzl added a late free throw.
Lander will be back in action this Wednesday night in Dahlonega, Ga., versus the University of North Georgia. The next Bearcats home game is Jan. 22 versus Augusta.
