YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Brian Harper scored 20 points, dished out 15 assists and recorded five steals to lead Young Harris College to a 90-87 upset over No. 6 University of South Carolina-Aiken in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game on Senior Day Saturday (March 2) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Mountain Lions improved to 13-15 overall and to 11-11 in the Peach Belt as they defeated the highest-ever ranked team they have faced in the program's history. YHC defeated No. 12 Kentucky Wesleyan University 78-71 at home in 2013. The Pacers fell to 24-4 and 18-4. Both Young Harris and USC Aiken have qualified for next week's PBC Tournament and they will find out who'll they play next when the bracket is released Sunday (March 3) evening.

The game was a see-saw affair that saw the score tied five times and saw 12 lead changes. USC AIken, which led 43-40 at the half, used a 9-2 run to start the second half to open up its largest lead at 52-42 on a three-pointer by Doniel Dean  with 16:36 remaining Young Harris responded with a 16-2 run over the next four minutes to open up a 58-54 lead after a Harper steal that resulted in two free throws. 

The Mountain Lions pushed their lead to as many as seven (70-63) after a layup from senior Nicksen Blanc with 8:38 to go, but the Pacers rallied to tie the game at 84 on a Shaquan Jules layup with 2:21 to play. USC Aiken took an 87-84 lead after Ty'lik Evans sank a three-pointer on the Pacers' next possession. Justin Jones pulled the Mountain Lions within a point (87-86) with 44 seconds to go after hitting two free throws.

Harper forced a turnover by the Pacers on USC Aiken's next trip down the floor and was fouled with 3.8 seconds left. Harper, who was 14-of-16 from the charity stripe, swished both attempts to give YHC an 88-87 lead. The Pacers then threw the ball away on their next possession and Harper sunk two more free throws with 0.3 seconds left to seal the upset. As a team, Young Harris went 26-of-31 (83.9 percent) from the charity stripe as a team.

Miller added 16 points for the Mountain Lions, while Jones finished with 15. Seth McCoy also finished in double figures with 13 points. Ryle Owens finished with nine points and nine rebounds, while Blanc grabbed eight rebounds.

Blanc and fellow senior James Laput were honored in pregame ceremonies.

Faison Brock led the Pacers with 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor, while Evans finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Xzavier Barmore had 16 points and seven assists, while Dean had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.