MIAMI SHORES, Fla. | Young Harris College used a 12-2 spurt in the final minutes to pick up an 86-78 men's basketball victory over Shaw University Saturday (Nov. 26) afternoon on the final day of the Cesar Odio Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Barry University.

The Mountain Lions improved to 5-2 and will conclude their pre-exam schedule with a 7:30 p.m. game against Clark Atlanta University Wednesday (Nov. 30) at the YHC Basketball Arena. The Bears fell to 3-2.

In a game that saw 13 ties and 11 lead changes, Shaw trimmed the YHC advantage down to one point (69-68) after DeAngelo Stephens-Bell hit one of two free throws with 6:06 to play. The Mountain Lions thwarted the rally when Bjorn Walker made a layup with 5:09 remaining and C.J. Wilson nailed a three-pointer 30 seconds later to give Young Harris a 74-68 lead. After the Bears got a basket back, the Mountain Lions got a layup from Walker, two free throws from Damari Edwards and a three-pointer from Edwards to open up an 81-70 lead with 1:41 to go.

Shaw wouldn't get any closer than eight points the remainder of the game.

Wilson led five Mountain Lions in double figures with 21 points and seven assists. Corey Nelson scored a career high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds. Ben Waterhouse added 14 points and five assists, while Marcellus Roberts nearly had a double double as he scored 13 points and grabbed a game high nine rebounds.  Walker finished with 10 points.

"This was really a good team win tonight," said YHC head coach Pete Herrmann. "The best thing about the win was that we didn't have to rely on C.J. for it. He was just one of several players that were key for us down the final four minutes of the game. Corey and Damari made some key baskets and Marcellus grabbed some big rebounds for us."

Young Harris hit 50 percent of its shots (32-of-64), including 9-of-18 from long distance. Waterhouse made four three-pointers while Wilson added three. The Mountain Lions, who made all but one free throw (14-of-15), held a 35-28 advantage in rebounds.

David Madol led the Bears with 38 points while Larry Richardson added 15.