Men’s Basketball wins ninth SAC Tournament title in program history in big win over UVA Wise

Greenville, S.C. —- The Catawba College men's basketball team was crowned South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament champions on Sunday afternoon, defeating UVA Wise 101-69 to claim their ninth SAC Tournament title in program history. The Catawba Indians improve to 23-7 overall, while UVA Wise drops to 19-12.

SAC Tournament MVP Javeon Jones led the way for Catawba with 19 points and eight rebounds, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line. DeAngelo Epps added 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Kris Robinson, Dre Nelson, Jerome Bivins and Peyton Gerald also scored in double figures in the high-scoring affair. SAC Player of the Year Bradley Dean had a game-high 21 points for the Cavaliers.

Catawba's offense was mechanical in the win, shooting 46 percent both from the field and from three-point range, while grabbing 21 offensive rebounds. The Catawba Indians racked up 20 assists on 39 made field goals, while committing just 10 turnovers and recording 10 steals on the other end.

The two teams played close in the first five minutes with Catawba holding just a 10-9 lead, but later opened it up with a 26-2 run over a seven-plus minute span that ballooned a slim 18-16 Catawba advantage into a 44-18 stronghold with just under five minutes left to go in the half. In the first 20 minutes alone, Catawba grabbed an offensive rebound on over half of their shots with 15 boards offensively in the first half. They led 54-28 at the break.

Catawba kept its foot on the gas from there, scoring 47 more points, reaching triple digits for the third time this season. UVA Wise trailed by 30 points or more for the final 17 and a half minutes, as Catawba cruised to its ninth SAC Tournament title and second under head coach Rob Perron (2019). 

Jones was named the conference's tournament MVP after averaging 19 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.7 steals in Catawba's three wins in the tournament. Epps and Gerald also were named to the All-Tournament team.

Catawba punches its ticket to the NCAA Tournament and will learn their matchup in the DII Men's Basketball selection show at 11 p.m. Sunday night.