ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 40-point first half was just what Lander needed on Wednesday night inside Flagler Gymnasium to take control of a Peach Belt Conference matchup – and control of the PBC standings by the end of the night.
Lander made nearly 60 percent of its shots over the first 20 minutes, drilling 16 of 27, while sinking five 3-pointers in a notably efficient half. The Bearcats (11-4, 6-2 PBC) are now alone atop the conference standings as the Saints fell to 10-6, 4-4.
Greyson Pritzl canned two of his three triples in the first half, including a stroke from way downtown before the halftime horn to give the Blue and Gold a 12-point lead.
Pritzl finished with 13 points and five boards in 25 minutes while freshman
Jacob Daniels paced LU with 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Daniels also added six rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes.
Joining them in double-figures with 10 points was
Dylan Canoville.
Terry Leonard Jr. nearly notched a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.
It took LU some time to get things going after falling behind 8-1 over the first four minutes.
They eventually trimmed that gap to 11-10 with a 9-3 run that was capped by
Antewan Webber Jr.'s trey with 12:47 left.
Lander tied the game at 14 and shortly thereafter grabbed a 17-14 lead on
Tommy Moore's 3-ball midway through the half as part of a solo 7-0 run by Moore.
The Bearcats never again relinquished their lead.
Canoville's steal and slam with four minutes to go made it 29-21. Pritzl's first 3-pointer put the exclamation point on a 14-2 run that brought it to 37-23 with 1:26 left.
Lander carried a 40-28 score into the break.
LU came out with intention in the second half and quickly extended its lead to 53-35 when Daniels made a driving layup as he was fouled. He sank the free throw following the first media timeout for a 19-point Lander lead with 16 minutes on the clock.
Moore's make with 11:30 to go gave Lander its largest lead of the night, 64-44, and though the Saints closed to within 10 with a few minutes remaining, the result was never truly in doubt.
The Bearcats wound-up shooting 54.5% for the game (30 of 55) with 44 points in the paint. The bench contributed 30 points or more for the third time in the last four outings with 30 tonight.
LU's defensive effort matched that of their offense: they held Flagler to 37.5% shooting (24 of 64) and a paltry four 3-point makes on 14.8% shooting from long distance.
Lander returns home to
Finis Horne Arena this Saturday afternoon in a 3:30 tip against conference newcomer Middle Georgia.
