DAHLONEGA, Ga. | Alphonso Willis and Brian Free combined for 50 points as Young Harris College clipped the University of North Georgia 88-83 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game at the UNG Convocation Center Saturday (Feb. 13).

The Mountain Lions improved to 5-6 overall and to 5-5 in the conference, while the Nighthawks fell to 2-7 and 2-6.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Young Harris never trailed against its Blood Mountain rival in the game and only was tied for 35 seconds.
• For the fourth time in the past five games, Young Harris had shot better than 50 percent from the floor. YHC connected on 53.2 percent (33-of-62) of its shots
• The Mountain Lions were on fire from long distance as they sank 14-of-26 (53.8 percent) from three-point range.
• The 14 three-pointers by YHC is a season high.
• The 11 thefts by the Mountain Lions were also a season high
• Young Harris used a 13-5 run midway through the first half to open up its largest lead of the game - 13 points (33-20) - after Brian Free sank a three-pointer with 7:37 left. The Mountain Lions hit three triples - two by Free and another from Seth McCoy - during the run.
• YHC, which led 43-38 at the half, pushed its lead back to 13 points (64-51) after Karl Chavis knocked down a three-pointer with 13:36 left. 
• North Georgia's Malik Hardy tied the game at 83 after hitting a three-pointer with 96 seconds to play. It was the only time the game was tied.
• Chinecherem Anukaenyi's layup 29 seconds later gave the Mountain Lions an 85-53 lead.
• North Georgia had two opportunities to tie or take the lead on its next possession, but came up empty.
• The Mountain Lions sealed the game from the free throw line in the finall 24 seconds as Free went 2-of-2 and Anukaenyi went 1-of-2.
• Willis was three rebounds shy of a triple double for the Mountain Lions as he finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven rebounds. For good measure Willis added four steals and had two blocked shots.
• Free, who was 5-of-6 from three-point range, tallied 19 points for the Mountain Lions.
• Anukaenyi and McCoy each finished with nine points for YHC. Anukaenyi also pull down seven rebounds.
• Chavis added eight points and seven rebounds for the Mountain Lions.
• Hardy finished with 23 points for UNG, while Josh Cottrell (17), Frank Champion (16) and Kody Shubert (15) also finished in double figures. Champron recorded a double double as he grabbed 12 rebounds.

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