ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. | Ryle Owens scored 25 of his career-high 30 points in the second half as the Young Harris College men's basketball team pulled away for a 102-92 Peach Belt Conference victory over Flagler College Saturday (Jan. 19) afternoon at Flagler Gym.

The Mountain Lions, who have reached the century mark in their last six games, won their fifth consecutive game as they improved to 9-7 overall and to 7-3 in the Peach Belt. Flagler fell to 5-9 and 2-6. Young Harris returns to action Monday (Jan. 21) as they travel to Augusta, Georgia, for a 3:30 p.m. league tilt against Augusta University.

Young Harris, which led for the majority of the game, took a 10-point lead (27-17) on a three-pointer from Owens with 10:40 to play in the opening half. Owens shot 11-of-16 from the floor against the Saints, including 7-of-10 from three-point range. Flagler rallied to cut into the YHC advantage, but the Mountain Lions took a 47-44 lead into halftime as Owens connected on a jumper with four seconds left.

The game saw seven ties and 14 lead changes, including 10 in the second half. Flagler took its largest lead of the game - three points (70-67) - after Vaughn McCall sank two free throws with 10:33 remaining. However, the Mountain Lions used a 14-2 run - 10 from Owens - over the next four minutes to open up an 81-72 lead on an Owens trey with 6:40 remaining. 

The Saints got within eight points (86-78) on three McCall free throws, but Owens converted a layup and sank a three-pointer in back-to-back possessions to push the YHC lead to 13 points (91-78) with 3:45 to play.

Flagler pulled within six points (91-85) a minute later, but Owens quelled the comeback with another three-pointer on the next Mountain Lion possession. The Saints could get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

The Mountain Lions, who shot 52.1 percent (38-of-73) in the game, shot 57.3 percent (19-of-33) in the second stanza, including 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from long range. Young Harris also forced Flagler into 23 turnovers in the game and converted them into 29 points (20 in the second half).

Besides Owens, the Mountain Lions had three others in double figures. Justin Jones and Alphonso Willis each poured in 21 points for Young Harris, while Nicksen Blanc contributed 10. Willis led YHC with five rebounds and four steals, while Brian Harper registered his sixth consecutive game with double figure assists as he had 10 against the Saints.

McCall led the Saints with 26 points, while Gedi Juozapaitis added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Damerit Brown and Kris Totoris added 10 points each.