Catawba Goes Toe-to-Toe With #17 UNC Pembroke; Fall By One In Final Seconds

PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Catawba College men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with the No. 17 UNC Pembroke Braves on Sunday night and fell in a nail-biter, 74-73. The Indians had a chance to tie with under three seconds to play, but could not convert the game-tying free throw to send the game to overtime. 

Sunday's Conference Challenge finale started off as a defensive battle as both teams struggled to score in the opening four and a half minutes. Adrian Scarborough and Kaleb Wallace had Catawba's first two field goals, and Wallace added a free throw to give the Indians a 5-4 lead with 15:52 in the first. 

Catawba's offense heated up behind three pointers from Wallace, Ray Kowalski, and Kris Robinson coupled with a basket by Javeon Jones. This gave the visitors a 16-6 advantage. 

With 11:12 in the first half, O'Mazeon Tinsley got to the cup on a layup to give the Indians a 20-9 lead which was their largest of the game. UNC Pembroke stormed back by outscoring Catawba 27-14 in the final ten minutes of the opening half. At the break, the Braves held a 39-36 lead. 

The second half had the makings of a heavyweight fight where both teams failed to give an inch. Pembroke delivered the first blow by inching their lead to eight points six minutes in. With 14:06, the Braves led 57-49. This was the largest margin for the remainder of the contest. 

Catawba stormed back with an 11-2 run that featured baskets by Tinsley, Kowalski, and Peyton Gerald. Gerald had a thunderous dunk with 9:43 to play that gave the Indians the lead back, 60-59. 

Down the stretch, both teams went basket for basket with neither side gaining more than a four point lead leading to a climactic finish. There were four ties and four lead changes in the final nine minutes on Sunday night. With five and a half to go, Pembroke held a 67-63 lead. Javeon Jones converted on a layup and a jumper then, Justin Banks cashed in on two free throws to give Catawba a 69-67 lead with 3:26 to play. 

Pembroke hit a three on their next possession to swing the momentum back in their favor before Jones got fouled and knocked down two free throws. This put Catawba back in front 71-70 with 2:58 on the clock. 

The Braves went down got and scored on a slashing layup to move back in front, and on the other end Adrian Scarbourough got fouled on his shot attempt but hit one of two from the stripe to tie the score 71-71. 

With 1:42 remaining, Pembroke's Javonte Waverly hit a jump shot to extend their lead to 74-72. Catawba missed their next three field goal attempts, but forced two misses by Pembroke in the final minute.

Kris Robinson had a go-ahead three-point look with five seconds left that rimmed out, but the dead ball rebound went Catawba's way. The Indians called timeout for one last play with three seconds left. Pembroke fouled Javeon Jones on the inbound, and he went to the stripe for two foul shots. 

Jones hit the first shot but missed the game-tying attempt and the Braves secured the rebound and the win. 

Catawba was 12-22 from the charity stripe on the night, but committed just five turnovers all night. 

The men;s basketball team will play their first home game in their next contest when they welcome Belmont Abbey Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.