Men's Basketball Falls at Catawba

SALSIBURY, N.C. - Catawba defeated visiting Mars Hill 100-77 in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym. The Catawba Indians improve to 9-11 overall and 7-7 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 8-10 and 4-8.

Mars Hill got a game-high 20 points from Justin Yeargin, who went 9-of-10 at the line. Patrick Monroe, who scored the first 10 points for the Lions, finished with a dozen, while Surmon Neal and Brandon Watkins each tossed in 10 points.

Jameel Taylor led the Indians with 19 points, while Andrew Ingram followed with 17 points and handed out five assists. Jerrin Morrison, with 12 points, and Ben Sealey with 11, rounded out the double-figure scorers for Catawba.

The Indians shot 53.6% (37-of-69) for the game and canned 13 three-pointers. Ingram and Sealey each connected on three. Ingram, who missed his first four shots, finished 7-of-15 from the field. The Indians also held a 48-37 edge on the glass.

Catawba scored the first seven points, but after Monroe hit back-to-back three-pointers the Lions had pulled even at 10. Two free throws and a layup from Yeargin completed a 10-0 spurt that put Mars Hill on top 14-10 after seven and half minutes.

A 14-2 run that was capped by a Barber fast break layup gave Catawba a 26-18 edge at the 7:17 mark of the half. The lead grew to 21 before Yeargin's three-pointer at the end of the half reduced the Indians' margin to 47-29 at the break.

Mars Hill never cut into its halftime deficit and saw the Indians push its lead to 69-42 midway through the half. The final 10 minutes resembled the NBA All-Star Game with the teams trading three-pointers and driving layups.

Mars Hill will play a make-up contest at Brevard on Monday, Feb. 1. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.