BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tosin Mehinti and C.J. Washington combined for 37 points as the University of Alabama at Birmingham held off Young Harris College 94-81 in a non-conference basketball game Monday (Nov. 17) evening at the Bartow Arena.

The NCAA Division I Blazers improved to 1-1 while the contest was an exhibition game for the NCAA Division II Mountain Lions. Young Harris (1-0) will return to action Wednesday (Nov. 19) when they host Anderson (S.C.) University in a 7:30 p.m. contest at the YHC Basketball Arena.

Young Harris, which lost to UAB 105-59 two years ago, hung tough with UAB and only trailed by eight points (51-43) at the half as Herdie Lawrence scored of his 22 points in the game during the opening 20 minutes as he shot 7-of-10 from the floor and was a sizzling 6-of-8 from long range.

"Tonight was very encouraging," said Young Harris head coach Pete Herrmann. "We are learning to trust each other more. This team is developing the way we want.

"Herdie Lawrence was really good in the first half, scoring 22 points and hitting six threes," added Herrmann. "C.J. Wilson ran a perfect floor game with 12 assists. Ben Waterhouse picked up the slack in the second half, hitting five three-pointers. We were to score inside with Sam Mike, who had 15 points."

The Blazers pushed their lead out to 20 points (83-63) when Nick Norton hit a three-pointer with 8:21 left. However, the Mountain Lions battled back and got as close as 11 points (92-81) when Ben Waterhouse answered with a three-pointer of his own with 57 seconds left.

Lawrence led the Mountain Lions with 22 points while Waterhouse and Sam Mike each added 15 more. Kevin Altidor poured in 13 points while C.J. Wilson recorded a double double with 11 points and dishing 12 assists.

Mehinti led the Blazers with 19 points while Washington added 18. Jarvis Calhoun (15), Chris Cokley (12) and Norton (11) also finished in double figures.