YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College led wire-to-wire as the Mountain Lions picked up a 96-90 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over Georgia College Monday (Feb. 4) evening at the YHC Basketball Arena.
The Mountain Lions, which led for all but 12 seconds, snapped their three-game losing streak as they improved to 10-10 overall and to 8-6 in the Peach Belt, while the Bobcats slipped to 11-8 and 6-7. Young Harris will travel to Morrow, Georgia, for a 7:30 p.m. PBC test against Clayton State University.
Young Harris scored 11 of the game's first 13 points as the Mountain Lions took an 11-2 lead after
Paul Miller sank three free throws to 17:20 remaining. The Mountain Lions extended their lead out to 15 points (36-21) after
Justin Jones converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 7:24 to go. The Bobcats got as close as five points (38-33) , but Young Harris scored nine unanswered points to push its lead back to 13 points (46-33) after Miller hit three more free throws with 2:39 to play.
Young Harris, which led 51-40 at the half, saw Georgia College start the second half on a 8-3 run to pull within six points (54-48), but the Mountain Lions scored the next 13 points to open up their largest lead - 19 points (67-48) - after Jones nailed a three-pointer with 14:23 remaining. Georgia College got within three points (93-90) after Jordan Thomas hit a three-pointer with 92 seconds left, but the Mountain Lions hit three free throws in the final 40 seconds to claim the win.
Jones led the Mountain Lions with 23 points, while Miller tossed in 19 points.
J.J. Flores collected 15 points, while
Brian Harper added 12 points, 14 assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Ryle Owens led YHC with six rebounds and added nine points.
Jordan Thomas led Georgia College with 28 points and six rebounds, while Isaac Thomas added 16 points Chapin Rierson also finished in double figures with 10 points.
