Greenwood, S.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team (8-2) notched a 60-58 win over Lander (5-4) Saturday afternoon on the final day of the Bearcat Holiday Classic at Horne Arena.

L-R junior forward Allan Jones (Clemmons, N.C.) came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points while sophomore guard Denzel Dillingham (Hickory, N.C.) added 15 points as the Bears recovered from Friday's loss to Georgia College.

Lander's Jareal Smith (Savannah, Ga.) led all scorers with 26 points and the Bearcats held a 40-25 advantage on the boards despite the loss.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 16-8 lead midway through the first half but the Bears rebounded and took a 30-28 edge into intermission.

The game remained close in the second half with eight total?ties but Lenoir-Rhyne took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Dillingham for a 48-47 advantage with 9:52 left.

Lenoir-Rhyne would eventually extend the margin to seven points and held on at the end as Lander cut the lead to one point twice late in the game.

David Pruett (Gainesville, Ga.) added 18 points for the Bearcats, who hit just 11-of-23 free throw attempts on the afternoon and missed their last four foul shots in the final 1:19 of regulation.

L-R junior guard R.J. McClure (Canton, N.C.) added 14 points and hit three treys for the Bears, who continued their best start in 21 seasons.

Lenoir-Rhyne returns to action on Wednesday, January 9, when the Bears play Wingate in a South Atlantic Conference game on the road beginning at 8:00 p.m. Lander, meanwhile, faces Columbus State in Columbus, Ga., in a Peach Belt Conference contest on Wednesday, January 2, at 7:30 p.m.