run MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College jumped out to a 12-point lead midway through the second half, but had to fend off a furious Young Harris College rally to hold on for an 83-78 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory Wednesday (Jan. 15) afternoon at the Centennial Center.

The Bobcats improved to 6-9 overall and to 3-4 inside the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions slipped to 3-11 and 1-5. Young Harris returns to action Saturday (Jan. 18) when they host the University of South Carolina-Aiken at 3:30 p.m.

Georgia College held a 35-34 lead at intermission. The Bobcats started the second half on a 8-2 run that saw Georgia College take a 43-36 lead after Justin Cave hit a three-pointer with 17:43 remaining. GC expanded its lead to 12 points (53-41) after Wesley Simpson and Austin Deckard hit back-to-back three-pointers with 14:04 to play.

The Bobcats took their largest lead - 13 points (62-49) - after a Cave layup with 9:29 left, but the Mountain Lions used an 10-2 run over a four-minute span to trim the Bobcat lead to two points (70-68) after Ryle Owens hit two free throws with 1:40 remaining. However, that would be as close as they would get as Justin Thomas, who was 1-of-13 from the floor, sank all 10 free throws he attempted over the final 42 seconds to hold off the Mountain Lions.

Chris Parks led the Bobcats with 16 points, while Thomas and Simpson finished with 13 points apiece. Cave and Christian Koneman each tallied 11 points. Thomas led Georgia College with seven rebounds.

Brian Harper led the Mountain Lions with 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Makiah Fox and Jonathan King each finished with 13 points, while King grabbed eight rebounds. Owens led YHC with 10 rebounds to go along with his nine points.