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From Staff Reports

 

YOUNG HARRIS, GA – After a decent first half played by the Georgia Southwestern State University men’s basketball team (GSW) against Young Harris College (YHC), the Hurricanes were down 45-36 at halftime. However, with 15:47 to go in the second half and GSW trailing 53-42, the Mountain Lions went on a 14-6 run over the next four and a half minutes to take a 67-48 lead. From that point on, the Hurricanes were unable to recover and lost to YHC 87-61 in a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) game played on Wednesday, January 22, at the YHC gymnasium.

None of the GSW starters scored in double figures, but Josh Press was able to score 14 points coming off the bench to lead the Hurricanes. Four of the Hurricane starters: Jamari Dean, Abdul Dial, Jalen Cameron and Soloman Thomas, each scored nine points in the losing cause.

The Hurricanes are now 8-7 overall and 3-6 in the PBC.

GSW fell behind 8-2 early in the game, but recovered by going on a 12-4 run to take a 14-12 lead on a layup by Press with 12:54 left in the first half. The Mountain Lions outscored the Hurricanes 11-5 over the next four minutes, but GSW was able to stay within striking distance and came to within three points at 28-25 on a three-pointer from Kahlon Whitley with 7:06 to go.

The remainder of the first half was fairly even between both teams, but the Mountain Lions outscored GSW 17-14 over the final seven minutes to take a 45-36 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Over the first two minutes of the second half, the Hurricanes were able to keep their deficit under double digits and pulled to within seven at 41-34 on a free throw by Dial. However, seven points would be as close as they would get for the rest of the game.

YHC increased their lead to 15 points on a three-pointer from Miki Tadic at the 14:06 mark of the second half. At that point, the Mountain Lions led 60-45 and took total control of the game from there on out.

The Hurricanes did not shoot the ball well in this game. GSW made 19 of 63 shots from the field (30.2 percent) and made only six of 28 three-point attempts (21.4 percent). GSW also struggled from the foul line as they made 17 of 30 free throws (56.7 percent).

On the other hand, the Mountain Lions shot 33 for 70 from the field (47.1 percent) and made nine of 27 three-pointers (33.3 percent). They were also slightly better at the free throw line as they made 12 of 19 foul shots (63.2 percent).

The Hurricanes were outrebounded 51-41 and the Mountain Lions dished out 23 assists, whereas GSW only had 13.

YHC had five players score in double figures. YHC reserve Kristian Collins led the Mountain Lions in scoring with 13 points as he came off the bench. Ryle Owens poured in 12 points, Brian Harper had 11 and both Nate Louis and Paul Miller each chipped in 10 points for YHC in the winning cause.

The Hurricanes will try to get back in the win column when they host UNC Pembroke in another PBC contest on Saturday afternoon, January 25, at 3:30 p.m.