GREENWOOD – Jordan Dingle and JR Washington hit late 3-pointers in double overtime, helping the Lander Bearcats outlast Georgia Southwestern 83-78 in a fierce Peach Belt Conference battle Friday night at Horne Arena.

Lander improved to 4-9 overall, 1-3 in the Peach Belt. The Hurricanes fell to 3-8, 1-3.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was moved back one day due to forecasted inclement weather.

Rahu Purdie paced the Bearcats with 20 points while Washington added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds while also leading Lander with six assists.

Washington upped his career points total to 1,554, passing Gabby Smith for third place on the school’s all-time scoring list. He trails only Clinton Cobb (1,834 career points) and recently retired Lander Athletics Director Jeff May (1,984 points).

Washington has now scored at least 10 points in his last 49 games.

Jarryd Coleman added 12 points, clinching the victory in the final seconds of double overtime with a defensive rebound and two free throws. Clenzo Rossscored 10 points while Chris Tate and Dingle added nine points apiece. Tate had three blocked shots while Washington added two.

Cameron Dozier paced Georgia Southwestern with 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. Tevin Wise added 19 points before fouling out with 15 seconds left in double overtime. Wise never went to the bench until his fifth foul, playing 49 minutes and 45 seconds.

Brandon Price added 15 points for the Hurricanes while Rakeem Hicks contributed 14 points while sharing team-high honors with eight boards.

Purdie made consecutive 3s as the Bearcats raced to a 13-4 lead in the game’s first four minutes.

But Georgia Southwestern answered with a 31-12 run, building a 35-25 advantage with 2:10 left. The Hurricanes made seven 3-pointers during the run, including four by Dozier and two by Hicks.

Coleman scored five points in the last minute, including a 3-pointer. But Georgia Southwestern held a 43-34 halftime lead on the strength on 10 3-pointers.

Lander chipped away at the deficit, pulling within 52-50 with nine minutes left in regulation on Washington’s two free throws.

The Bearcats tied it at 52-all just inside the seven-minute mark when Ross made a long jumper just inside the 3-point arc as the shot clock was winding down.

The Hurricanes regained a 56-52 lead when Coleman made a 3-pointer to pull Lander within 56-55 with 4:24 left. Purdie made two free throws to give the Bearcats their first lead since early in the game, 57-56, with 3:50 to go.

Cameron Clayton scored to put Georgia Southwestern back on top and Price hit a 3, giving the visitors a 61-57 lead at the three-minute mark.

Purdie’s 3 pulled Lander within 61-60 with 2:45 left. Price put the Hurricanes back up by three, but Tate made a reverse layup to cut Lander’s deficit to 63-62 with 1:47 left.

Georgia Southwestern had the ball for over a minute and despite missing four shots, kept possession with three offensive rebounds. After the fourth missed shot finally ended the possession, Lander took over with a chance to win. Purdie was fouled with 17 seconds left, and made one of two free throws to tie at 63-all.

The Hurricanes had a final possession with a chance to win, but Price’s fade-away jumper at the buzzer was off target and the game went into overtime.

The scoring started slowly in the first overtime as Purdie had a basket and two free throws, giving Lander a 67-65 lead inside two minutes left. But Wise hit a 3, and Georgia Southwestern regained a 68-67 advantage with 1:40 left.

After the Bearcats missed a shot, Tate forced a jump ball on the offensive rebound, and the possession arrow was pointing toward Lander. Dingle took advantage, making a shot off the glass for a 69-68 Bearcats lead at the 1:16 mark.

Price made a long jumper, giving the Hurricanes a 70-69 lead with 45 seconds to go.

Dingle grabbed an offensive rebound off Coleman’s missed 3, was fouled and made two free throws to give Lander a 71-70 advantage with 16 seconds left.

The Bearcats contested Georgia Southwestern’s last possession, closing down on Price but fouling him with 1.3 seconds left. Price missed the first free throw, but his second shot bounced in to re-tie the game at 71.

Washington inbounded a deep pass to Tate, whose long shot just inside half-court fell short and the contest went into double overtime.

Washington opened the second overtime with his first 3-pointer of the night, giving Lander a 74-71 lead.

There was not another point until the 2:33 mark when Devin Watson made a pair of free throws, pulling the Hurricanes within 74-73.

Wise gave Georgia Southwestern its first lead of the second overtime with his basket with 1:53 left. Washington found Dingle open in the left corner and Dingle hit a 3, putting Lander back on top 77-75 with 1:17 to go.

The Hurricanes missed a 3-point attempt but saved the ball from going out of bounds. However, they turned the ball over on the inbounds pass. The Bearcats took advantage. With the shot clock winding down, Purdie scrambled around and eventually found Washington, who hit a fade-away 3-pointer with a hand in his face for an 80-75 lead with 32 seconds left.

But Dozier converted a three-point play, pulling the Hurricanes within 80-78 with 18 seconds to go.

Washington made one of two free throws, extending Lander’s lead to 81-78 with 15 seconds left. Dozier missed a 3-pointer with three seconds left, Coleman grabbed the defensive rebound, was fouled, and made both free throws to clinch victory.