MIAMI SHORES, Fla. | C.J. Wilson scored 24 points to lead the Young Harris College men's basketball team past Florida National University Friday (Nov. 25) afternoon on the first day of the Cesar Odio Thanksgiving Classic being played on the Barry University campus.

Young Harris improved to 4-2 and will return to action Saturday (Nov. 26) at 4 p.m. when they face Shaw University on the final day of the Classic. The  Conquistadors fell to 2-7. 

The Mountain Lions scored seven unanswered points midway through the first half to open up a 29-23 lead on a three-pointer by Wilson, who now is the all-time leading scorer - men's or women's - at YHC in the NCAA era with 1,599 points, with 8:32 remaining. Wilson moved past former women's basketball player Ladondra Johnson, who scored 1,598 points in her career from 2010-14.

After the Conquistadors pulled to within three points, Young Harris, which scored 28 points in the opening 20 minutes off 11 Florida National turnovers, responded with 13 unanswered points to open up a 42-26 lead with 3:50 left in the first half on an old-fashioned three-point play by Corey Nelson.

After YHC led 49-36 at the half, the Mountain Lions took their largest lead of the game - 21 points (61-40) - on a three-point play from Marques McKoy with 15:07 to go.  The closest the Conquistadors would get the remainder of the game was 10 points (93-83) with 71 seconds to play.

Young Harris shot 54.5 percent (36-of-66) from the floor and held a 46-31 advantage on the boards. The Mountain Lions finished the game by scoring 37 points off FNU's 18 turnovers and outscored the Conquistadors 56-34 in the paint.

"It was a good win for us tonight," said YHC head coach Pete Herrmann. "We were very strong tonight in the paint. Marcellus, Marques and Bjorn made 16 buckets and grabbed 23 rebounds between them. We aren't defending the ball like we should, but we will have to be better defending tomorrow against Shaw."

Wilson, who was 7-of-13 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line, added six assists. McKoy, who made seven of his 12 shots, finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Marcellus Roberts added 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals while J.B. Charles also finished in double figured with 10 points. Bjorn Walker nearly missed a double double with nine points and eight rebounds while Ben Waterhouse tossed in eight points and had four assists.

Jermohn Queen led the Conquistadors with 23 points while Deontrea Dixon posted 21 more.