COLUMBUS, Ga. | Rudy Winters, Darius Joell and JaCori Payne combined to score 62 points as Columbus State University hung on for a 84-82 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over Young Harris College Saturday (Feb. 17) afternoon at the Lumpkin Center.

The Cougars improved to 8-15 overall and to 8-12 in the league, while the Mountain Lions fell to 7-19 and 6-14. Young Harris returns to the YHC Basketball Arena for the final time this season when they host Georgia College in a 7:30 p.m. PBC contest Wednesday (Feb. 21). The Mountain Lions will recognize their seniors prior to the game.

Young Harris had its way in the opening 20 minutes. The Mountain Lions used an 11-1 run to open up a 23-12 lead on an old-fashioned three-point play by Corey Nelson with 11:59 to play.  Columbus State managed to pull within a point at 27-26 after a Jesse Deloach jumper six minutes later. The Mountain Lions extended their lead to as many as nine points before settling for a 41-34 halftime lead.

Columbus State, which shot 69.2 percent (18-of-26) from the floor in the second half, used a 15-1 run to take a 65-54 lead on a Michael Graham layup with 8:42 remaining in the game.Young Harris got as close as five points (73-68) after a Ben Waterhouse three-pointer with 4:28 to go. The Mountain Lions used a 5-0 run to get within two points (77-75) on a Waterhouse jumper with 1:52 left, but Young Harris couldn't get any closer the rest of the way.

Winters and Joell led the Cougars with 21 points each, while Payne had 20. Winters added nine rebounds. 

Nicksen Blanc led Young Harris with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Waterhouse added 15 points. Antonio Wade and J.B. Charles had 13 points apiece, while Wade dished out six assists. Nelson recorded a double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while recording five assists.