YOUNG HARRIS, GA – The Emmanuel Men's Basketball team traveled to Young Harris, GA this evening to face the Young Harris College Mountain Lions in conference play. The Lions took an early lead, and the two teams traded points and the lead throughout the first half. The Mountain Lions took the lead late in the first to take a 44-41 lead into the break. The second half was as competitive as the first, with both teams making impact plays. The Mountain Lions pulled ahead late to earn the 86-79 victory. With the loss, the Lions move to 7-11 on the season, 4-6 in conference action.

The Lions jumped out to an early 12-3 lead behind key three-pointers from Devin Story and Isaac Jones. The Mountain Lions responded to tie the game at 14-14 with 13:36 to go in the first, but the Lions answered with jumpers from Rett VanDeMark and Brady Peery to go back up 18-17 with 12:01 to go. The two teams traded points and the lead until late in the first, when the Mountain Lions pulled ahead with 2:23 to play in the half. Young Harris would lead 44-41 at the break. In the first, the Lions shot 41% from the field, connecting on 7-8 from the foul line. 

The second half saw the Lions quickly tie the game up at 46-46 on a free throw by Ezra McKee. The Lions took the lead on a jumper by Story to make it 48-46, Lions with 16:39 to play but Young Harris answered with an 8-0 run to take a 54-48 lead. The Lions kept the game close with back-to-back layups by VanDeMark to cut the Mountain Lion lead to three, 58-55 with 9:09 to play. With 5:09 to play, a three-pointer by Isaac Jones cut the three, 66-63 but Young Harris would respond to pull ahead by 10, 77-67 with 2:52 to play. The Lions made a run in the final few minutes, pulling within three points of the lead on a three-pointer from Devin Story to make it 80-77, Young Harris with 1:07 to play. The Mountain Lions closed the game out at the line to earn the 86-79 win.

Devin Story led all scorers with 38 points and 7 rebounds and 3 assists on the night. Ezra McKee added 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals while Isaac Jones added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Sam Thacker led the team in assists with 7. Rett VanDeMark picked up 3 blocks on the night. 

Next up, the Lions will host Francis Marion on Saturday at 4PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.