AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern State University men's basketball closed out a physical, back-and-forth Peach Belt Conference battle with a 71-68 victory over Lander University on Wednesday night in the Storm Dome, snapping a seven-game skid against the Bearcats and moving into a five-way tie atop the league standings.
Amir Reaves led all scorers with 19 points, while
Deonte Williams anchored the paint with a game-high 10 rebounds as the Hurricanes won their fifth-straight game to improve to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
Reaves Leads Late-Game Execution
Reaves delivered when it mattered most, scoring 10 of his 19 points in the second half and repeatedly getting to the free throw line during crunch time. The junior guard finished 9-of-13 at the stripe and knocked down a pair of free throws with 4:53 remaining to give GSW the lead for good.
His steady presence helped the Hurricanes withstand multiple Lander pushes in the final five minutes of a game that featured eight lead changes.
Williams Controls the Glass
Williams was a force on the boards all night, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds to go with nine points and four blocks. The senior came up one point shy of a double-double but consistently altered shots and cleaned up defensive possessions as Lander attacked the paint.
His rebounding helped offset a narrow deficit on the glass and limited second-chance opportunities during key stretches of the second half.
Free Throws Make the Difference
Georgia Southwestern leaned on its ability to get to the line, converting 20 free throws — the second-highest total by the Hurricanes this season. GSW went 13 of 18 at the stripe in the second half, using trips to the line to steady the offense in a tight contest.
Despite being held to just 10 assists — the second-lowest total this season — the Hurricanes protected the ball, committing only nine turnovers, which tied a season low.
Holding the Edge Down the Stretch
JR Jacobs provided a key spark late, tying the game with a three-pointer at the 5:24 mark before following it up with a go-ahead jumper in the paint with just over a minute remaining.
Matthew Webster added a crucial layup to extend the margin, and GSW's defense forced a pair of late misses to seal the win.
The Hurricanes held Lander scoreless over the final 1:40 but missed four free throws which allowed the Bearcats to stay within one possession.
Next Up
The Hurricanes break up their five-game homestand with a trip to Dahlonega, Ga. on Saturday to face No. 15Â University of North Georgia at 4 p.m. before returning home for a pair of home contests next week.
