ANDERSON, S.C. – Young Harris College upended top seed and host Anderson University in the first round 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday. The Mountain Lions got off to a hot start and held off a late run to take the contest 72-69.

Young Harris got off to a hot start, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes while fifth-ranked Anderson shot 50.0 percent. The Mountain Lions jumped out to a 19-6 lead behind three-point shooting in the opening seven minutes. Young Harris extended the lead to 32-19 before a 9-0 Anderson run pulled the Trojans within 32-28 with four minutes remaining in the first half. Young Harris responded with six straight points and held a 40-35 lead at the half.

Young Harris held that lead early in the second half until an 8-0 run gave Anderson a 49-48 lead, their first lead of the game with 11:23 remaining. The teams then traded baskets until Young Harris broke a tie at 58 with four straight points and later led 65-60 with two minutes remaining.

The Mountain Lions scored five straight points to even the tally, but three free throws from Justin Payne gave the lead back to Young Harris. Two free throws from Dylan Wolle and two more from Payne iced the 72-69 victory.

Young Harris shot 50.0 percent from the floor while Anderson shot 44.8 percent. Payne led Young Harris with 27 points while Jalen Ware added 16 points and eight rebounds. Kadyn Dawkins led Anderson with 21 points.

Young Harris advances to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship where they will face the winner of fourth-seed Lenoir-Rhyne University and fifth seed University of North Georgia. Tipoff from Anderson, South Carolina is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.