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Flagler rallies to hold off Bearcats, 85-81

Dane Sparrow

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Dane Sparrow scored a game-high 23 points Saturday night and two other Lander Bearcats reached double figures as the Bearcats lost to Flagler College, 85-81, in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

Flagler improves to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in the PBC, while Lander drops to 5-8, 0-5. The Bearcats will host UNC Pembroke at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a PBC contest in Horne Arena.

Sparrow connected on 7-of-14 shots from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line while grabbing seven rebounds to lead the Bearcats. Brenton Harris added 16 points and six rebounds for Lander and Greg Smalls netted 12 points. Kevin Kelley added five assists for Lander.

Flagler was led by John Pietkiewicz's 22 points, while Eddie Fowler added 16 points and D.J. Ferguson added a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists. Chad July grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Pietkiewicz connected on 4-of-8 field goals, including three three pointers and also made 11-of-12 free throws.

For the game, Flagler, which led 40-36 at halftime, made 23-of-48 field goals for 47.9 percent, including 4-of-11 three pointers. The Saints also connected on 35-of-42 free throws.

Lander was 29-of-56 from the field for 51.8 percent, including 7-of-17 three pointers for 41.2 percent. The Beacats also made 16-of-22 foul shots for 72.7 percent.

Lander outrebounded Flagler, 34-23.

After being tied at 2-2, 4-4, 5-5, 9-9 and 11-11, Flagler went on a 10-2 run to take a 21-13 lead on a pair of July free throws with 11:03 left in the first half. The Saints got their first double-digit lead at 31-21 on two Ferguson free throws at 6:25 and stretched the margin to 36-22 at 5:12 on a Pietkiewicz's layup.

The Bearcats rallied and trimmed the lead to 37-36 on Harris' layup with 54 seconds left in the half.

After trailing 44-38 with 18:06 left in the game, Lander went on a 17-7 run to take a 51-45 lead on a Da'Shon Barrino jumper with 12:36 left.

Flagler rallied to tie the game at 51-51 on Ferguson's layup at 10:43, then Lander got back on top 57-53 on a pair of Sparrow free throws.

The Saints came right back and tied the game for the ninth time at 57-57 on two Pietkiewicz free throws.

After being tied at 61-61, Flagler went on a 9-0 run and took a 70-61 lead with 3:53 remaining on Justin Stokes' layup. Lander cut the margin to four points, 72-68, on Tovi Bailey's three pointer with 2:15 and Flagler jumped back out to a nine-point lead, 77-68, with 1:16 left on Fowler's three-point play.