YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College wiped out a five-point deficit in the final 1:40 as the Mountain Lions rallied to defeat Lander University 73-69 in a battle of undefeated Peach Belt Conference men's basketball teams Wednesday (Jan. 6) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena.
 
Young Harris improved to 7-7 overall and are 5-0 in the PBC West Division while the Bearcats fell to 10-4 and 4-1 in the PBC East Division. The Mountain Lions travel to Americus, Georgia, Saturday (Jan. 9) for a 3:30 p.m. PBC contest against Georgia Southwestern State University.
 
In a game that saw 13 lead changes and 10 ties, Lander opened up a five-point lead (67-62) on a layup by JR Washington with 1:40 to play. Marcellus Roberts scored his only points of the game with two free throws on the next possession for the Mountain Lions and C.J. Wilson followed with two more free throws after a steal after the Bearcats had trouble inbounding the ball to pull YHC within a point at 67-66.
 
The Mountain Lions took the lead at 69-67 with 66 seconds left on an old-fashioned three-point play by Marques McKoy after he grabbed an offensive rebound. Lander tied the game at 69 on a Washington layup 20 seconds later, but Wilson gave Young Harris the lead for good at 72-69 when he drilled a three-pointer with 19 seconds left.
 
"C.J. is the best player in the Peach Belt," said Young Harris head coach Pete Herrmann. "He refuses to let his team down. His play is the main reason we won. C.J. is very clutch and is very confident in the clutch. He and Ben (Waterhouse) are as good a backcourt in the Peach Belt.
 
"The team effort defensively was terrific tonight," added Herrmann. "It was great effort defensively from Ben (Waterhouse) and Devin (Coleman)."
 
Washington's three-pointer to tie the game for Lander missed and Ben Waterhouse made one of two free throws with 10 seconds left to seal the Mountain Lion win.
 
Wilson led Young Harris with 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting and added six assists, five rebounds and five steals. Wilson also hit four three-pointers as Young Harris, which shot 60.9 percent from the field in the second half, went 10-of-21 from long distance. Waterhouse, who hit four three-pointers, added 16 points and J.B. Charles finished in double figures with 14.
 
Tobiasz Hose had a double double – 14 points and 12 rebounds – to go along with his five assists. Washington finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four steals. Sergio Smith (12) and Tyree King (10) also finished in double figures.