Box Score

GREENWOOD, S.C. – A game-high 23 points by Matt Clark (St. Augustine, Fla., St. Augustine HS) wasn't enough as Flagler College fell at Lander University 100-83 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at the Finis Horne Arena.

Lander won its fifth game in a row and improved to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the Peach Belt. The Bearcats also snapped a four-game losing streak to the Saints. Flagler lost its fifth game in a row and dropped to 6-6 on the season and 0-5 in league play.

Dwight Tolbert led the Bearcats with 21 points, 13 of which came in the second half. He added a game-high eight rebounds and blocked two shots. Corey Wright recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists. David Pruett poured in 14 points as he sank four 3-pointers. Jermel Kennedy chipped in with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Lander shot 55.9% (38-68) from the floor, including 62.9% (22-35) in the second half alone. The Bearcats dominated scoring in the paint holding a 52-20 advantage over the Saints.

Clark scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half. He was 8-of-13 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Ryan Barnes (Oviedo, Fla., Newberry College) poured in a career-high 18 points, all coming on his six 3-pointers. Jarrod Branco (Hudson, Fla., Hudson HS) came off the bench to provide 18 points. Desmond Gibson (Havana, Fla., James S. Rickards HS) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Flagler made 15 treys in the game, the most in a game since last year's 15 triples vs. Trinity College (Nov. 23, 2010). The Saints shot 45% (27-60) from the field for the game and 45.5% (15-33) from 3-point range for the game.

The Bearcats closed the first half on a 15-3 run to wipe out a 30-29 Saints lead. In that final 4:45, Flagler was 1-for-5 from the field and committed four turnovers.

After an Addison Smith (West Palm Beach, Fla., College of Central Florida) jumper cut the Flagler deficit to 10 (46-36) with 17:55 left, a Kennedy dunk in transition sparked a 12-2 run and Lander took a commanding 58-38 lead.

Flagler will host Georgia College in another Peach Belt Conference tilt on Saturday (Jan. 7) at 3:30 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium.

Flagler vs Lander
01/04/12 7:30 p.m. at Horne Arena, Greenwood, S.C.
At Horne Arena, Greenwood, S.C.

LANDER 100, FLAGLER 83

FLAGLER (6-6, 0-5 PBC)
Matt Clark 8-13 1-1 23; Jarrod Branco 5-8 5-6 18; Ryan Barnes 6-16 0-0 18;
Addison Smith 4-8 3-4 11; Chad July 3-4 3-5 9; Ante Gospic 1-7 2-2 4; Elijah
Hayes 0-2 0-0 0; Justin Stokes 0-0 0-0 0; Jordan Warner 0-0 0-0 0; Desmond
Gibson 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 27-60 14-20 83.

LANDER (8-2, 2-1 PBC)
Dwight Tolbert 8-15 4-5 21; Corey Wright 6-11 6-8 19; Jermel Kennedy 5-7 4-4
14; David Pruett 5-11 0-0 14; Darion Canty 4-8 0-0 8; Michael Lowe 2-4 1-2
6; Cody Waterworth 3-6 0-0 6; Mac Mitchell 2-2 0-0 4; Scott Elder 1-2 1-2 3;
Darius Carrier 1-1 1-1 3; Dennis Rumph 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 38-68 17-22 100.

Flagler.......................   33   50  -   83
Lander........................   44   56  -  100

3-point goals--Flagler 15-33 (Matt Clark 6-9; Ryan Barnes 6-14; Jarrod
Branco 3-6; Elijah Hayes 0-2; Desmond Gibson 0-1; Addison Smith 0-1), Lander
7-20 (David Pruett 4-8; Dwight Tolbert 1-4; Michael Lowe 1-2; Corey Wright
1-3; Cody Waterworth 0-2; Darion Canty 0-1). Fouled out--Flagler-None,
Lander-None. Rebounds--Flagler 31 (Desmond Gibson 7), Lander 38 (Dwight
Tolbert 8). Assists--Flagler 14 (Ryan Barnes 3; Addison Smith 3), Lander 20
(Corey Wright 12). Total fouls--Flagler 17, Lander 15. Technical
fouls--Flagler-None, Lander-None. A-250