Men’s Basketball Falls at Catawba
SALISBURY, N.C. - Mars Hill lost on the road at Catawba College, 101-92 Wednesday night at Goodman Gym. The Catawba Indians improved to 7-10 overall and 3-6 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 5-12 on the season and 2-7 in the league.
Keon Moore and Justin Huntley each scored 24 points to notch career-highs and help Catawba to the SAC victory. Moore, with 16 points at the break, and Huntley, with 13, helped Catawba to a 51-41 edge at the half. Moore canned four three-pointers as the Indians shook off a 3-for-15 start to hit 17-of-36 in the opening 20 minutes.
Mars Hill held the early lead with the Indians not finding the range, leading 18-11 after a jumper by Donterious Hughes at the 11:28 mark. Moore hit a pair of three-pointers and Cameron Lovelace another to help Catawba rally and grab a 28-26 edge with 6:46 left in the half. The Indians pulled away in the final five minutes of the half, outscoring Mars Hill 21-10.
Catawba built its lead to 15 in the second half, but the Lions rallied back behind Hughes, who scored 19 of his 21 points after the break. A four-point play by the league's No. 2 scorer and another three-pointer cut the margin to 72-64 with 11:12 remaining. Tarron Stewart brought Mars Hill within five with 9:11 left, but that was as close as the Lions got.
Reid connected on the last of Catawba's ten three-pointers with 6:28 to go to put the Indians up 86-76. Catawba hit on 7-of-8 at the line in the final 3:13 of the contest to keep its edge.
Reid scored a dozen of his 16 points in the second half. He finished with eight assists and seven rebounds. Lovelace also reached double figures with 13 points. Catawba would shoot 50% for the game (32-of-64) after the slow start.
Dion Malachi matched Hughes with 21 points for Mars Hill. He completed a double-double by pulling down 10 rebounds. Stewart finished with 12 points. The Lions shot 44% for the game and 40% in the second half. Turnovers were even at 13 apiece with Catawba holding a 42-41 edge on the boards.
Mars Hill will play at Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. The Coca-Cola, pre-game show will begin
at 3:30 p.m. prior to the women's contest.