White Oak native Rahu Purdie poured in a career-high 19 points and corralled 8 rebounds Saturday night as his Lander University Bearcats claimed a 79-72 non-conference basketball victory at Limeston College in Gaffney, SC.
Purdie connected on 7 of 11 field goal attempts and drained both of his 3-point shots. The freshman guard made 3 of 4 foul shots and dished out one assist.
The West Bladen grad popped in a jumper then nailed his first 3-point attempt to keep Lander within 13-9 early in the game. Purdie drove for a lay-up at the 3:02 mark that ignited a 9-0 Bearcat run that closed the half and vaulted the visitors in front 32-29.
Purdie canned a jump shot to open the second half, grabbed a defensive rebound and sank 2 foul shots to extend the Lander lead to 36-29. A Purdie lay-up and another jump shot kept the Bearcats in front 46-42.
Lander was clinging to a one-point lead when Purdie bombed in a 3-pointer with 3:09 left to play that stretched the margin to 61-57.
The teams were tied 64-64 at the end of regulation. A Purdie free throw capped a 7-2 spurt that produced a 75-70 Bearcat lead with 32 seconds left in overtime.
Purdie has now scored in double-figures in 3 of his 4 games this season. Lander, now 3-1, will travel to Paine College in Augusta, GA for a 7:30 game Tuesday
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