YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Isaiah Johnson and C.J. Wilson combined for 46 points as Young Harris College picked up a 79-66 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over the University of South Carolina Aiken Saturday (Jan. 31) afternoon at YHC Basketball Arena.
The Mountain Lions, who picked up their first win of 2015, snapped their nine-game losing streak as they improved to 6-12 overall and to 3-9 in the conference while the Pacers slipped to 10-11 and 5-7. Young Harris returns to action Wednesday (Feb. 4) when they travel to cross-mountain rival University of North Georgia for a 7:30 p.m. Battle of Blood Mountain contest.
The Mountain Lions led from start to finish against USC Aiken. Young Harris used a 10-2 run midway through the first half to open up a 23-13 lead on Wilson's layup with 10:09 remaining. The Mountain Lions extended their lead to 15 points (30-15) on a Johnson three-pointer with 7:58 left.
USC Aiken closed the deficit to 37-30 at the half and got within two points (55-53) on Tyreece Brice's layup with 9:47 to play. However, Johnson responded on the next possession for Young Harris with a three-pointer that jump started a 12-0 run that culminated on a Kevin Altidor dunk after a Wilson steal that gave the Mountain Lions a 67-53 lead with 7:28 remaining.
The Pacers would manage to only get as close as nine points the remainder of the game.
Johnson led Young Harris with 24 points and nine rebounds while Wilson tallied 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Altidor contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Bjorn Walker, who scored seven points, grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds as the Mountain Lions held a 46-33 advantage over USC Aiken on the glass.
"Our rebounding was huge," said Young Harris head coach Pete Herrmann. "That was a big reason why we won. Bjorn had a big game on the glass. C.J. was steady and solid while Isaiah is the heart and soul of what we try to do."
The Pacers were led by André Anthony with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists while Brice added 13 points and Arbry Butler had a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with his five blocked shots.
