AUGUSTA, Ga. – Devon Wright-Nelson's pass found a wide-open Ryan Weems, who knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining Saturday to put the GRU Augusta Jaguars out of reach of the Lander Bearcats en route to a 84-76 Peach Belt Conference victory in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The contest marked the conference opener for both teams.

Weems followed the basket with two free throws to cap a 7-0 run that gave GRU its largest lead of the night, and three Jaguars (5-2, 1-0 PBC) hit their free throws to keep the Bearcats (4-4, 0-1 PBC) at bay on a night where neither team opened more a lead more than five until less than three minutes to play.

It was a tight ballgame throughout, featuring 11 lead changes in the first half alone.

A fast-break layup with some nifty spin by Wright-Nelson gave the Jags the lead with 5:50 in the half, and a KJ Sherrill putback extended the lead before Lander closed the gap, knotting things at 30 on a layup. The Jags' Ronell Crockett responded with a 12-footer, and then swished two free throws before Lander hit two of its own to make it 34-32 heading into the break.

Junior guard Devonte Thomas paced the balanced Jaguar attack with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Keshun Sherill added 13 points, KJ Sherrill posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Weems hit 9-of-10 free throws in addition to this three for 12. Ronell Crockett and Wright-Nelson each chipped in 11 for the Jags, who shot 46.8% on the night and 33-of-41 (80.5%) from the stripe.

Lander's Michael Panaggio had 21 to top all scorers as four Bearcats hit double figures.

GRU is back in action Thursday, December 12 when the Jags host Shaw in a non-conference matchup at 7:30 p.m.