AUGUSTA, Ga. –
Jaizec Lottie scored a game-high 25 points and added five rebounds, five assists and three steals to help lead No. 25 (NABC Division II Top 25) Flagler College past Lander University 67-62 in a Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal game Friday night at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Flagler, the No. 2 seed, improved to 23-6 overall. The Saints will look to defend their conference title against No. 10 Augusta University, the tourney's top seed and host, at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Lander, the No. 6 seed, ends its season with a 14-15 mark.
"I loved the edge our team came out with tonight," said head coach
Chad Warner. "It will take that and more tomorrow night to win the PBC title. We are excited about this opportunity."
The Saints led by as many as 18 points (40-22) in the first half and took a 42-29 advantage into the break. The Bearcats committed 10 turnovers that led to 14 points for the Saints.
Flagler maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half, but Lander used a 14-4 in the later stages of the game to pull to within four (62-58) with 1:36 left. Zane Rankin made a pair of free throws to cap the run. The Bearcats could not get any closer.
Jalen Barr added 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Saints.
Flagler forced 17 Lander turnovers and were able to convert them into 24 points.
Tommy Moore led four Lander players in double figures with 13 points. He added five rebounds and four assists. Jared Sherfield scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Rankin and Nigel Colvin each added 10 points.
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