YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Brian Harper scored his 1,000th point in his career as he led Young Harris College to a 92-79 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over Francis Marion University Sunday (Feb. 9) afternoon at the YHC Basketball Arena.

The Mountain Lions, who have won four of their past six games, improved to 7-15 overall and to 5-9 in the Peach Belt, while the Patriots slipped to 4-17 and 3-11. Young Harris will go for its third consecutive win Wednesday (Feb. 12) when they host Georgia College in a 7:30 p.m. PBC contest.

Harper, who has now scored 1,020 points in his career at Pfeiffer University and YHC, led the Mountain Lions with 21 points, 14 assists and six rebounds. Ryle Owens and Nate Louis each added 18 points, while Jonathan King posted 14. 

Francis Marion opened up an early six-point advantage (17-11) on a Ja'Lil Robinson three-pointer with 13:13 left in the first half. Young Harris scored seven straight points - a Harper short jumper, a Louis layup and a long ball by Owens - to take a 27-22 lead with 6:51 left in the half.  The Patriots got as close as two points (31-29) after a Winston Hill free throw with 4:36 to go. YHC thwarted the rally by scoring the next six points to take a 37-29 lead on a Jacorie Archie three-pointer with 2:45 to play.

Young Harris, which led 43-33 at the half, never saw its lead sink into the single digits in the second half as they shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the floor, including 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from long distance over the final 20 minutes. The Mountain Lions opened up their largest lead - 24 points (90-66) - on two Brian Free free throws with 2:59 remaining. Free finished with nine points.

The Mountain Lions scored 20 points off 19 FMU turnovers and outscored them 25-7 on the fastbreak. 

Keith Matthews led Francis Marion with 32 points and seven rebounds, while Robinson tossed in 20 points. Hill had a double double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.