Balanced attack helps Young Harris past Bryan 66-59

DAYTON, Tenn. – Young Harris College had four of its five starters in double figures as the Mountain Lions held off Bryan College 66-59 in a men's basketball game Saturday (Dec. 3) afternoon at Summers Gym.

The Mountain Lions won their third consecutive game – a first in the program's history – as they improved to 4-2 as they also recorded their first-ever road victory in the process. The Lions, who were swept by Young Harris in the season series, fell to 3-8. Young Harris will now break for final exams and will return to action Saturday (Dec. 10) with a 4 p.m. contest against Reinhardt University at the YHC Basketball Arena.

 

"It was a gut check win for us," said Young Harris basketball coach Pete Herrmann. "There were a lot of firsts for us – three wins in a row, first road win and first time that we swept an opponent. They really had to earn the win. It was a very good team win."

 

Young Harris took its largest lead of the first half as Steve Viterbo, who finished with 15 points, nailed a three-pointer to give the Mountain Lions a 27-14 lead with 6:44 remaining. Young Harris, which led by 10 points (33-23) at the half, extended its lead to as many as 16 points (41-25) on an old-fashioned three-point play by Bryson Robertson with 16:24 to play.

 

However, Bryan rallied to outscore Young Harris 25-9 over the next nine minutes to knot the score at 50 on a three-pointer by T.J. Smith with 7:22 left. The Lions actually took the lead at 56-53 on a three-pointer by Tim Fortenberry with 6:03 remaining. It would be the next-to-last field goal for Bryan, which hit just 32.3 percent (20-of-62) of their shots, the remainder of the contest.

 

"We we able to hold a team to under 40 percent from the floor," said Herrmann. "That is key to beat a team on the road."

 

Vince Martin, who led the Mountain Lions with 18 points, hit three three-pointers in a row to give the Mountain Lions a 63-58 lead with 1:23 to play. Frank Adams, who had 12 points, added a put back with 48 seconds left to push the advantage to seven (65-58).

 

Michael Matta, who was making his first start for the Mountain Lions, made the most of it as he scored a career-high 15 points. Fortenberry led Bryan with 19 points.