Young Harris Rallies Past Jags

Young Harris Rallies Past Jags

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Young Harris outscored Augusta State 10-0 over the final 2:12 Saturday afternoon for an 86-76 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Jaguars in YHC Basketball Arena.

The contest marked the first-ever meeting between the Jags and Mountain Lions, the league's newest member.

With the loss, ASU slipped to 11-9 on the season and 6-7 in the PBC. Young Harris climbed to 15-6 and 10-4, respectively.

Junior guard Ryan Weems notched a team-high 21 points for the Jags and Devonte Thomas netted 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and a team-best eight rebounds. D'Angelo Boyce booked 13 points, nine assists and three steals. Senior Travis Keels turned in 12 points and seven rebounds, while Roman Hill managed nine points and five boards. Sophomore forward Devon Wright-Nelson, battling a sprained right ankle, did not start and totaled two points and three rebounds in seven minutes.

Malcolm Jackson scored a game-high 22 points for YHC and Vince Martin booked a double-double with 20 points and 12 assists. Michael Matta sparked the Mountain Lions with 18 points off the bench, while Frank Adams and Tony Raymond had 11 points each.

In a matchup that featured 16 ties and 20 lead changes, Boyce connected on a jumper that pulled ASU even at 76-all with 2:24 remaining. But the Mountain Lions answered just 12 seconds later on an Adams' layup, and Matta and Adams scored the final eight points as the Jags misfired on their final four field-goal attempts.

The Jags shot 54.8 percent in the first half and led 45-41 at the half. YHC shot 51.6 percent in the second half and nailed 10 3-pointers in the contest. ASU outscored Young Harris 41-28 in the paint and went 16-of-17 (94.1) from the charity stripe.

The Jags' three-game road swing continues on Thursday, Feb. 14 at Columbus State with a 7:30 p.m., tipoff vs. the Cougars in Lumpkin Center.