MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Charles Ward scored 23 points to lead five University of Sioux Falls in double figures as the Cougars edged Young Harris College 82-76 in a non-conference men's basketball game Saturday (Nov. 29) evening on the final day of the Odio Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Barry University.

The Cougars improved to 2-3 while the Mountain Lions fell to 3-3. Young Harris will now take a three-week break before they open its Peach Belt Conference schedule with a 7:30 p.m. contest Dec. 18 against Armstrong State University in Savannah, Georgia.

Young Harris took its largest lead – eight points (28-20) - on Sam Mike's layup with 7:41 remaining in the first half to culminate a 7-0 run by the Mountain Lions. Young Harris maintained its lead throughout the remainder of the half as they led 37-35 at the intermission.

The second half was tight as neither team led by more than six points. The game see-sawed back and forth between the two teams over the final 20 minutes as there were six ties and five lead changes. The Cougars took the lead for good at 66-64 on a Freddie Young putback with 4:17 remaining.

Another Young putback gave Sioux Falls a 74-70 lead with 2:24 to play, before an Isaiah Johnson three-pointer trimmed the deficit to a single point at 74-73. However, Young, who scored all of his 12 points in the second half, nailed a three-pointer on the Cougars' next possession to push their lead back to 77-73 with 1:50 left. After a missed three by the Mountain Lions, Ward got a layup with 72 seconds left to give USF a 79-73 lead.

The closest the Mountain Lions would get the remainder of the game was four points (79-75).

Sioux Falls shot 58.1 percent (30-of-51) from the floor, including shooting 61.5 percent (16-of-26) over the final 20 minutes. The Cougars also held a 40-29 advantage on the glass. Young Harris was held to 41.5 percent shooting (27-of-65).

Ward and James Lawson led the Cougars with 11 rebounds each while Lawson also tallied 11 points. Mack Johnson added 16 points and Bryan Kielpinski contributed 10. Young also dished out 10 assists.

Johnson paced the Mountain Lions with 21 points while C.J. Wilson added 20 points and five assists. Herdie Lawrence had 14 points while Kevin Altidor had 12 points and a team-high six rebounds.