.COLUMBUS, Ga. | Brian Harper's triple-double - 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists - helped lead Young Harris College past Columbus State University 104-96 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon at the Lumpkin Center.

The Mountain Lions won their second consecutive game as they improved to 5-13 overall and to 3-7 in the Peach Belt, while the Cougars fell to 11-7 and 6-4. Young Harris returns to the YHC Basketball Arena Wednesday (Jan. 29) for a 7:30 p.m. Peach Belt contest against its Blood Mountain rival University of North Georgia. The game will also be the annual Purple Out game for the Mountain Lions.

It was the first career triple-double for the senior guard from Memphis, Tennessee, and just the second in the program history for the Mountain Lions. Vince Martin tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in YHC's 100-96 double overtime win at Azusa Pacific University during the 2012-13 season.

Columbus State led 55-54 at halftime, but the Mountain Lions outscored the Cougars 50-41 in the second half behind Harper's 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Cougars tied the game at 60 after Bryant Givens hit a three-pointer with 18:32 left in the game. Young Harris took the lead for good nine seconds later ay 63-60 as Jacorie Archie swished a three-pointer. Back-to-back three-pointers from Brian Free and Archie around a CSU basket and a Harper layup saw the Mountain Lions extend their lead to 71-62 with 16:25 to play.

Columbus State got within four points (71-67); however, the Mountain Lions put together a 15-6 run that saw YHC take an 86-73 lead on a three-pointer by Ryle Owens with 10:55 to go. The Cougars got as close as four points (100-96) on a Hunter Preston three-pointer with 51 seconds left.  Young Harris sealed the game as Seth McCoy and Harper each sank two free throws,

Young Harris shot 50 percent from the field (36-of-72), including 50 percent (13-of-26) from distance. 

McCoy added 18 points behind five three-pointers, while Archie, who hit four three balls, added 16 points. Owens finished with 15 points, while Jonathan King tallied 11 points and five assists. Nate Louis grabbed seven rebounds.

Preston led the Cougars with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Givens finished with 21 points and 15 assists. Anthony Moore finished with 13 points and Landrius Horton tallied 11 points and eight rebounds.