MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – In front of a raucous crowd of local middle and elementary school students for Education Day, the Georgia College Men's Basketball team (6-9, 3-4 PBC) got a balanced scoring attack in beating Young Harris College (3-11, 1-5 PBC) 83-78 Wednesday at the Centennial Center.

The Bobcats played in front of middle and elementary school students from the two private schools and the public school in Baldwin County, putting upwards of 4,000-plus high-energy youngsters in the crowd.

The Bobcats didn't disappoint, snapping a three-game skid as sophomore Chris Parks (Buford) led GC with 16 points. Junior Jordan Thomas (Conyers) and sophomore Wesley Simpson (DeLand, Florida/Union Grove HS (Ga.)) each tallied 13 points. Thomas brought in a team-high seven rebounds, while Simpson added five boards and four assists. Junior Justin Cave (Savannah) added 11 points, including three long-range bombs, and sophomore Christian Koneman (Chatsworth) chipped in 11 off the bench.

The Mountain Lions started strong, owning a 9-4 advantage after the first four minutes. The two teams stayed close for the remainder of the half, Young Harris cutting a GC lead to one at 35-34 before the break.

The Bobcats led the entire second half, owning as much as a 12-point advantage. The Mountain Lions scratched and clawed back into it late and trailed by three at 75-72 after Jacorie Archie made good on a put-back. Thomas drained all 10 of his free-throw attempts over the final 47 seconds to keep Young Harris from getting any closer.  

The shooting numbers were tight, with YHC hitting at 43 percent and GC 41. The difference came in bench points, as the Bobcat reserves out-scored Young Harris' 24-19. The Mountain Lions were led by Brian Harper with 19 points and eight assists.

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m., hosting Georgia Southwestern State University.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the 2017 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.