FLORENCE, S.C. – Six players scored in double figures, assists were made on at least 20 baskets for the third straight game, and the Lander men's basketball team extended its winning streak to three games in a wire-to-wire win over host Francis Marion in the Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday evening.
Jacob Daniels had 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and five others scored at least 10:
Greyson Pritzl,
Terry Leonard Jr. and
Bobby Crawford Jr. all contributed 11, and
Antewan Webber Jr. and
Jake Tringone scored 10 each.
The balanced attack saw the Bearcats (5-1) shoot 53.3% from the field (32 of 60) with assists coming on 20 of those makes, led by Daniels' six after he had 13 a night ago.
Webber Jr. was the high rebound-getter with six of the Blue and Gold's 35.
Lander raced out to a 13-3 lead six minutes into the game and never looked back against the Patriots (1-6, 1-1 Conference Carolinas).
That margin ballooned to a game-high 21 points over the next 10 minutes following a 16-0 run that brought it to 33-12.
Pritzl and Crawford alternated the first four baskets during the stretch as Pritzl nailed two triples and Crawford had a dunk and a lay-in.
Navaughn Maise added three points before Webber sank a trey with 5:50 left in the opening half; the Bearcats led 38-22 at the break.
Pritzl hit another 3 to make it 49-31 before the first media timeout of the second half.
The Bearcats restored their 20-point lead on a Crawford free throw with 11:36 remaining that made it 55-35.
FMU got within 65-53 with seven minutes to go but never got any closer.
Lander dominated in the paint where they outscored the Patriots 46-22. They also scored 17 points off of 10 FMU turnovers and added 20 fast-break points.
LU will begin Peach Belt Conference play this Wednesday, Dec. 3 on the road in Columbus, Georgia. Tip-off with the Cougars is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
