GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Georgia College Men's Basketball team (9-10, 6-5 PBC) couldn't hang on to a first-half lead Wednesday at Lander University (15-4, 9-2 PBC), the Bobcats falling to the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) leaders 76-70.

The Bobcats led by a pair at the half 29-27, and led by as much as eight earlier in the half. Lander got its first lead of the second at 35-34, just under three minutes in. The teams traded blows for much of the remainder of the game.

Junior Justin Cave (Savannah, Georgia) drained a three with 90 seconds remaining, cutting the Lander advantage to a single possession at 70-68. GC could inch no closer as the Bearcats made their final four free-throw attempts, keeping the Bobcats at bay.

Junior Jordan Thomas (Conyers, Georgia) led the Bobcats with 18 points, hitting 5-for-18 from the field and all eight of his free-throw attempts. Cave ended up with 17 points, as all four of his field goals came from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Wesley Simpson (DeLand, Florida/Union Grove High (Ga.)) scored 11 with a team-best six rebounds, and classmate Chris Parks (Buford, Georgia) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10.

Many of the numbers were about even as one would expect in such a tight contest. Lander's biggest advantage came from points in the paint at 36-22. The Bearcat reserves also out-scored the Bobcat bench 24-11.

With the 18 points tonight, Thomas has now scored 1,300 in his career, taking a spot in the school's top-10 by passing Graham Martin (2010). Up next in ninth place is Thomas' former teammate Isaac Thomas (2019) at 1,303.

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m. traveling to Flagler College (10-9, 6-5 PBC). GC will look to even the season series with the Saints after a 98-96 overtime loss earlier this season.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the 2017 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.