YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Brian Free scored 13 points of his game-high 18 points in the second half as the Young Harris College men's basketball team pulled away from the University of South Carolina-Aiken for an 86-74 victory in the Peach Belt Conference opener at the YHC Recreation and Fitness Center.

The Mountain Lions improved to 1-1 overall and to 1-0 in the Peach Belt, while the Pacers fell to 1-2 and 0-1. Young Harris will travel to St. Augustine, Florida, for a 3:30 p.m. PBC tilt against Flagler College Saturday (Jan. 9).

The Mountain Lions, who led for nearly 34 minutes, turned a 41-38 halftime deficit into a 12-point win as YHC shot 52.0 percent (13-of-25) from the field over the final 20 minutes. 

Young Harris took the lead when Free sank a three-pointer to give the Mountain Lions a 46-45 lead with 17:27 remaining. That jump started a 19-11 run that pushed the YHC lead out to nine points (65-56) after Karl Chavis hit a fastbreak three-pointer eight minutes later.

The Pacers battled back to take a 66-65 lead on Donaven Hairston layup with 6:25 to go, but Seth McCoy drained three free throws nine seconds later to give the Mountain Lions lead for good at 68-65. 

YHC extended its lead to 10 points (82-72) after Brian Free sank a free throw with 71 seconds left.  The Mountain Lions salted the game away from the free throw stripe as they connected on 17 of the 20 attempts in the second half, including 9 of their 10 attempts over the final 2:26 of the game.

Sebby Jean, who went 12-of-12 from the free throw line, added 16 points and dished out five assists. Chavis recorded a double double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Carl Cleveland added 12 points. Jacorie Archie contributed by 10 points and five rebounds. Free also tallied seven rebounds and recorded five assists. Caleb Towns nearly had a double double of his own as he scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Anyeuri Castillo led the Pacers with 23 points while Latreavin Black posted 15 rebounds, eight coming on the offensive glass.