YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Alphonso Willis scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Young Harris College led wire-to-wire in its 81-60 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over its Blood Mountain rival University of North Georgia Wednesday (Jan. 13) evening at the YHC Recreation and Fitness Center.

The Mountain Lions improved to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the Peach Belt, while the Nighthawks slipped to 1-2 and 1-2.

Willis scored 12 seconds into the game on a layup and the Mountain Lions were on their way. Young Harris scored the game's first eight points and opened up a 10-point lead (15-5) on a layup by Willis with 13:04 to play. YHC expanded its lead to 14 points (25-11) on a Willis layup with just over eight minutes left in the half.

North Georgia pulled to within six points (27-21) after a Josh Cottrell jump shot with 4:57 left, but the Mountain Lions took a 10-point halftime lead (33-23).

The Nighthawks got the deficit cut to seven points (33-26) in the opening 90 seconds of the second half, but Young Harris thwarted the rally as the Mountain Lions put together a 19-8 run to open up an 18-point lead (52-34) after a Seth McCoy three-pointer with 12:44 remaining. YHC took its largest lead - 22 points (66-44) - after a Caleb Towns putback with 5:53 to go.

Willis finished the game hitting 10-of-18 shots from the field and also dished out five assists. Brian Free added 14 points and had four assists, while Jacorie Archie posted 12 points. Sebby Jean contributed 11 points and had four assists, while Karl Chavis added 11 rebounds.

Zach Brown led North Georgia with 14 points, while Kody Shubert and Frank Champion each tallied 13 points.