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COLUMBUS – In front of nearly 3,000 people, the Columbus State University men's basketball team rallied for an 84-82 victory over Young Harris on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference game was played in the Lumpkin Center on Fort Benning Appreciation Day.
 
It was a trio of players leading Columbus State (8-15, 8-12 PBC) in scoring on Saturday. Rudy Winters and Darius Joell each finished with 21 points, while JaCori Payne added 20 of his own.
 
"I was proud of the way the guys fought today," head coach Robert Moore said. "We had a great crowd and a great environment and I'm glad we were able to get a win for them."
 
Both teams came out hot as the two sides combined to miss just three shots in the first five minutes of the game.
 
Young Harris (7-19, 6-14) was threatening to run away early, jumping out to a 25-12 advantage, but the Cougars rallied back. CSU responded with a 14-2 run that got it back within one with six minutes to play in the first half.
 
However, the Mountain Lions withstood the punch from Columbus State and took a 41-34 lead into halftime.
 
In the second half, it was six straight points from Joell that knotted the game up at 48 apiece and Jesse Deloach pushed the Cougars in front at the 15-minute mark.
 
YHC seesawed back in front, but Joell again tied the game up and Winters converted in transition to give the Cougars the lead and they would be in front the rest of the way.
 
Columbus State held a 67-56 advantage with under eight minutes to go, however the Mountain Lions weren't ready to go away just yet. YHC battled and had the lead down to two with 1:20 to play, but the Cougars would not relinquish the lead.
 
The Cougars were 33-for-56 (58.9 percent) from the field on Saturday, their second-best shooting performance of the season. They did that despite shooting just 3-of-19 from the 3-point line.
 
Columbus State heads on the road Wednesday night to Flagler for its final road game of the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.