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By: Josh Fuller

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The 25^th-ranked Columbus State University men's basketball team rallied from a 11-point second half deficit to defeat Young Harris 86-83 Sunday. The Peach Belt Conference contest took place in the YHC Basketball Arena in Young Harris, Ga.
 
The win pulls the Cougars (13-4, 7-3 PBC) within one game of YHC (10-9, 8-2) for the top spot in the PBC West division.  
 
"I'm so proud of my guys," stated CSU head coach Robert Moore. "I really thought they fought the entire night. This is a very tough place to play and we did what we needed to do to win."
 
It was Columbus State's first victory over the Mountain Lions in Young Harris in four attempts.
 
The Cougars held the lead for all of the first half after racing out of the gates on a 9-1 run. Brentine Taylor had it going early hitting two jumpers while Darren Daniel nailed a three.
 
Cam Baker laid one in for the Cougars at the 10:49 mark to up CSU's lead back out to seven (21-14) before Young Harris scored six unanswered points to pull within one.
 
The Cougars would hold the lead, however, heading into the locker room up 39-35.
 
The second half was the exact opposite of the first as the Mountain Lions were the ones with the hot shooting hands. YHC scored 11 of the first 13 second half points to take its first lead of the game at 47-41 with 16:23 on the clock.
 
Both sides exchanged buckets until Young Harris crept the lead out to nine (56-47) on a pair of C.J. Wilson free throws. Following a CSU turnover, Wilson a hit a jumper to put the Mountain Lions up by a game-high 11-points with 12:07 left in the game.
 
After regrouping during a media timeout, the Cougars came out on fire. CSU scored the game's next eight points, including six from Baker.
 
YHC held onto its lead for the next three minutes until a fast break dunk from Taylor gave CSU a 65-64 lead with 7:04 to go.
 
The game was far from over as the Cougar lead never reached more than three. With 4:11 to go, Wilson hit a big three for the Mountain Lions to knot the game at 71. YHC retook the lead a few seconds later on a Marcellus Roberts jumper off an offensive rebound.
 
Columbus State came right back down the floor and scored back-to-back buckets in the paint from Taylor and Baker to regain the lead at 75-73 with 2:35 remaining.
 
Wilson tied the game once again with two free throws before JaCori Payne drew a foul and made both of his to put the Cougars right back in the lead.
 
With less than two minutes to go, it was Wilson who once again tied the game for the Mountain Lions. The junior nailed a jumper to tie the game at 77.
 
However, Baker changed the game's whole momentum completing a three-point play after being fouled on a layup. The Columbus native gave the Cougars a three-point lead (80-77) with 1:26 to go.
 
The Cougars wouldn't give up the lead from there never allowing Young Harris a game-tying shot attempt.
 
Baker and Taylor each turned in great efforts for the Cougars. Baker scored 32 points going 10-for-18 from the floor. The senior was nearly perfect at the free throw line making 12-of-13. Taylor had his best game of his Cougar career going for 25 points and 13 rebounds. He was 12-for-18 from the floor and grabbed eight offensive rebounds.
 
Columbus State shot 50 percent (34-for-68), but made a season low two three-pointers.
 
Wilson matched Baker with 32 points of his own and seven assists. Marques McKoy had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Waterhouse and Marcellus Roberts each had 14 points.
 
Columbus State will return home on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. to face Flagler.