YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Darius Simmons scored 20 of his game-high 29 points as Lenoir-Rhyne University defeated Young Harris College 110-99 in a non-conference men's basketball game Saturday (Nov. 9) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Bears improved to 2-0, while the Mountain Lions fell to 0-2. Young Harris hits the road for the first time this season when they travel to Greeneville, Tennessee, for a 7:30 p.m. game against Tusculum University.

Young Harris used a 7-0 run over a 90 second stretch to open up a 10-point lead (32-22) after a Brian Harper layup with 9:20 remaining in the first half, but the Bears tallied a 10-0 run to tie the game at 32 on two Simmons free throws with 7;25 to go. L-R pushed its lead lto seven (47-40) after Tyson McClain sank two free throws with 2:40 left before intermission. The Mountain Lions, who shot .57.6 percent from the field (19-of-33) in the opening 20 minutes, would tie the game at 47 on two Ryle Owens free throws, but Lenoir-Rhyne  would take a 54-49 lead at the half.

The Mountain Lions rallied in the second half to regain the lead and led by as many as six points (80-74) after Seth McCoy knocked down a three-pointer with nine minutes left. The Bears broke the game open as they used a 16-2 run to open up an 90-82 lead on a Simmons layup with 5:15 to go. Young Harris got back-to-back baskets from Harper and Miki Tadic to get within four points (90-86), but that would be as close as they would get.

Simmons finished with 29 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Bears, which shot 55.9 percent (19-of-34) from the field in the second half. R.J.Gunn added 22 points, while McClain (17) and Mason Hawks (14) also finished in double figures.

Alphonso Willis led the Mountain Lions with a double double as he scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Harper tallied 25 points and dished out nine assists.. Owens finished with 17 points.