MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. –  The Georgia College Men's Basketball team (2-2, 2-2 PBC) jumped out to an early lead and held off a strong second-half rally to take out the defending Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament Champion Lander University (4-4, 2-2 PBC) 69-66 Saturday at the Centennial Center.

The Bobcats got production from multiple places, as senior Kohl Roberts (Atlanta) led with 22 points. The big man pulled in eight rebounds and went 9-for-13 from the floor. Junior guard Wesley Simpson (DeLand, Florida/Union Grove HS [Ga.]) had the program's first double-double this season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Simpson narrowly missed triple-double status with eight assists as well.

Senior Jordan Thomas (Conyers) scored 19 points, adding five assists. Junior Chapin Rierson (Calhoun) returned to action for the first time since the 2018-19 season finale and hit for 11 points, including all three of his attempts from long range.

After trading buckets early, the Bobcats went screaming in front with a 13-0 run. The streak gave the Bobcats a 35-19 lead with 3:25 left in the first half. Rierson made a pair of threes and Thomas hit one as well during the 13-0 stretch.

The Bearcats clawed back in the second half, thanks in large part to 12 second-half points from DaJuan Moorer. Lander trailed 65-64 with just 2:50 left. Thomas made a lay-in to stretch the lead to three, then after the Bobcat defense forced a turnover, Simpson made good on an alley-oop layup from Roberts to shove the score back up to 69-64 with just under two minutes left. Lander couldn't answer.

Georgia College won the battle of the boards 40-35, and have yet to be out-rebounded this year. The Bobcats also out-shot Lander 47 percent to 37 percent from the floor.

The Bobcats are back in action Monday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m. playing host to Young Harris College. There will be no spectators allowed for Monday's contest, fans can follow live video and stats at GCBobcats.com.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics is proud to receive the 2020 NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence. The two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner Cup and the former PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, GC Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on Graduating Champions For Life. Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.