FLORENCE, S.C. | Je'Quan Perry scored 16 points to lead seven Francis Marion University players in double figures as the Patriots defeated Young Harris College 96-88 in the Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals Wednesday (March 6) evening at the Smith University Center.

The No. 3-seed Patriots improved to 21-7 and will advance to the semifinals Saturday (March 9), while the No. 6-seeded Mountain Lions ended their season at 13-16.

Francis Marion jumped out to a quick nine-point lead (18-9) as Jaquez Smith hit a three-pointer with 15:29 left in the first half; however, the Mountain Lions got within three points (41-38) after Brian Harper's layup with 23 seconds left before halftime.

Harper tied the game at 49 after another layup with 16:29 remaining and Ryle Owens gave the Mountain Lions their first lead at 51-49 since 2-0 on a fastbreak jumper 15 seconds later. Young Harris built up its lead to as many as eight points (72-64) on a Justin Jones jumper in the paint with 8:28 to go.

The Patriots scored the next eight points over the next 51 seconds to tie the game at 72 on a three-pointer by Perry. Young Harris pushed its lead back to four points (82-78) on a Paul Miller layup with 5:26 to play, but Francis Marion reeled off the next 10 points to take control of the game and take a 88-82 lead on a Perry layup with 2:46 remaining. The closest the Mountain Lions would get the rest of the way was four points.

Brandon Parker added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Patriots, while Kendall Wall (13), Douglas Dwight (13), Kailex Stephens (12), Winston Hill (11) and Smith (10).

Harper led the Mountain Lions with 21 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals. Miller added 19 points, while Jones contributed 18 points and five rebounds, while Owens had 12 points and six rebounds before fouling out. Nicksen Blanc grabbed seven rebounds and James Laput added six more in their final game in a Mountain Lion uniform.