Men's Basketball Rides Big First Half to 86-78 Win Over Carson-Newman

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Catawba rode a big first half and did enough to hold on for an 86-78 victory over Carson-Newman in a South Atlantic Conference men's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym. The win keeps Catawba on top of the Piedmont Division, improving to 15-5 overall and 10-2 in the SAC. The Eagles fall to 11-11 and 5-7.

Jerome Bivins scored all 16 of his points in the opening half to help spur Catawba to a 52-34 lead. The Indians hit on 50% of its shots and went 7-of-14 behind the arc. Catawba led by as many as 24 points in the opening stanza.

Carson-Newman methodically cut into the lead over the final half. An 11-2 run over a three-minute span cut the lead to 64-51 with 11 minutes remaining. The Eagles pulled within 11 with nine minutes to play, but a three-pointer by Kris Robinson helped slow the C-N rally.

The Indians still led by 14 inside the final three minutes then withstood a last minute rush by Carson-Newman. Kaleb Wallace put Catawba up 82-71 with a pair of free throws with 1:25 remaining, but a three-pointer by Nick Brenegan and another jumper after a missed Catawba free throw made it 82-76 with 40 seconds to go. Wallace and DeAngelo Epps added free throws in the final 30 seconds to ice the win.

Catawba shot just 32% in the second half, while the Eagles heated up to 51%. C-N led in rebounds 44-37, but Catawba won the turnover battle, out-scoring Carson-Newman by 10 off miscues.

Epps led Catawba with 22 points. Wallace added 17 off the bench and was followed by Bivins' 16. Peyton Gerald had eight points and eight boards.

Luke Brenegan paced the Eagles with 15 points with Nick Brenegan adding a dozen. Camden McElhaney chipped in with 10.

Catawba is on the road Monday with a non-conference tilt at Bluefield State at 7 p.m.