WILSON, N.C. | C.J. Wilson scored 18 of his game-high 20 points as Young Harris College rallied from a 14-point deficit to tip off the 2016-17 season with an 82-67 non-conference win over Barton College Friday (Nov. 11) evening at Wilson Gymnasium on the first day of the 45-Second Classic.
Young Harris will face the University of Mount Olive in an 11 a.m. contest Saturday (Nov. 12) on the final day of the tournament. The start was moved up three hours to accommodate Barton's hosting of the Conference Carolinas Volleyball Tournament.
The Mountain Lions, who only hit two of their first 16 attempts from the field, found themselves down 37-23 on a Jeff Gordon jumper with 1:29 remaining in the first half. Young Harris closed the margin to 10 (37-27) at the half, before the Mountain Lions used a 17-7 spurt over the opening five minutes of the second half to tie the game at 44 on a three-pointer by Ben Waterhouse with 14:52 to play. Waterhouse scored seven of his 11 points in the game during the run.
Barton pulled back ahead by four points (52-48) on a Gordon layup two minutes later. However, Young Harris, which shot 54.5 percent (18-of-33) from the floor in the second half, took control of the game as they scored the next 13 points over the next five minutes to open up a nine-point lead (61-52) on a Bjorn Walker tip-in with 7:23 left.
The Mountain Lions, which held the Bulldogs to just 34.9 percent shooting (10-of-29) over the final 20 minutes, expanded their lead to as many as 17 points (82-65) on a dunk by Marcellus Roberts with 24 second remaining.
"It was a good team win," said YHC head coach Pete Herrmann. "All five starters were in double figures with Marcellus picking up a double double. Bjorn did a very good job defending their big guy, limiting him to just two shots. We were able to get about every rebound (YHC held a 28-8 advantage in the second half). We also got good contributions from Corey and Damari as well."
Wilson converted 7-of-9 shots in the second half to lead YHC with 20 points. Wilson was one of five Mountain Lions to finish in double figures. Roberts had a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds as Young Harris held a commanding 50-31 advantage on the glass. Walker and Waterhouse each had 11 points while Corey Nelson finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Tyler Thayer led Barton with 14 points.
