Yeargin scores 37 points in Loss to Brevard

MARS HILL, N.C. – Justin Yeargin scored his career high 37 points but Mars Hill fell to Brevard in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action, 86-81, Wednesday night in Stanford Arena. The 37 points was also a season high for the Lions. Mars Hill fell to 9-14 overall, 5-12 in the league. The Tornados improved to 4-19 on the season and 3-14 in the SAC.

Michael Carson and Tyree Griffin followed Yeargin with 12 and 11 points in the contest, respectively. Yeargin was 13-19 from the floor and 5-7 from 3-point range. The Lions shot 44.6% (29-65) from the floor, 38.5% (10-26) from behind the arc and 52.6% (13-25) from the foul line.

Demarcus Threatt led the Tornados with 24 points. Threatt connected on 9-12 of his attempts from the field. Stevie Williams followed with 21 points while Miles Leathers added nine points and a game high 12 rebounds. Brevard hit 59.2% (35-59) of their field goals, 31.3% (5-16) of their 3-point attempts and 55% (11-20) of their free throw attempts. The Tornados won the battle of the boards, 43-29.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Yeargin put the Lions up 6-0 with 19:13 left in the first half but Brevard answered scoring eight unanswered points capped off by a Layup by Williams at the 18:12 mark to take an 8-6 lead. The Tornados would not relinquish their lead the remainder of the game. Brevard led by 10 points on two occasions in the first half of play and went into the locker room at the intermission holding a nine point (45-36) advantage. Yeargin scored 23 of his 37 points in the first frame.

The Tornados extended their lead to 15 points (55-40) with 16:31 left in the second period after Alex Moe hit a layup. The Lions clawed back into the contest over the next 15 minutes of play outscoring Brevard 40-28 to trim the deficit to just three points (83-80) with 1:09 left in regulation after Carson nailed a 3-pointer. MHU was forced to foul and Leathers hit the front end of two shots at the charity stripe to lead 84-80. Carson was fouled with 11 ticks left and hit one-of-two free throws to bring the Lions back within three points of the Tornados. Another Lion foul sent Threatt to the line with six seconds left in the game and he sealed the win by sinking a pair of free throws to make the final tally 86-81 in favor of the visitors.

Mars Hill will play at SAC foe Queens on Saturday, February 13. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.