Catawba College’s Indians presented Coach Jim Baker a special victory atGoodmanGym on Thursday night.
It was an 87-78 win over St. Andrews in the first game of the new Walt Baker Classic, named in honor of Coach Baker’s father, who was associated with North Rowan High for 33 years as basketball coach, athletic director and school official. He died Oct. 16.
“It was a very special win,” said coach Baker. “I am grateful to Charles Park (owner of C. F. Parks and Co.) for naming the tournament in honor of my father.I know how much he loved basketball. The game was very important to him and it has been important to my family.”
The Indians struggled at times with the Knights as they continued their sparkling start this season with their fifth straight victory.
It was the Tribe’s 23rd straight home-court victory. The loss left St. Andrews with an 0-3 record.
St. Andrews will swing back into action tonight in the second game of the Classic, meeting Winston-Salem State at 7 at Goodman Gym.
Catawba will meetWinston-Salem State in the final game of the 19th-annual event Saturday night at 7.
The Indians can stake claim to the championship with a decision over W-S State. They have won six of the past seven Classics.
Catawba trailed once by five points but stayed out front virtually the whole time against St. Andrews.
Four Indians cracked double figures in scoring. Brian Carter, a 6-5 junior forward, led the way with 25 points on 9 of 19 shooting from the floor. He also went 6-for-8 from the foul line and hit one 3-pointer.
Center Alex Luyk, a 6-9 sophomore, followed with 14, and Kevin Petty, a speedy 5-8 guard, had 13. Forward Terrence Hamilton added 10.
Tramine Skeens, a 6-6 center, paced St. Andrews with 20. He got 10 of them at the foul line.
TomasIvanauskas, a freshman from Lithuania, contributed 17.
The Indians jumped off to a 9-6 lead behind Phipps’ three field goals. However, the Knights went on a 10-2 run to take a 16-11 lead.
Catawba bounced back, outscoring the Knights 12-2 to take the lead for good at 18-16.
The Indians managed a 23-18 advantage midway through the first half and took a 44-32 lead at intermission.
Catawba got off to a cold start in the second half. The Indians scored only four points in the first seven minutes. Meanwhile, St. Andrews cut the deficit to 48-44.
Carter and Petty then provided the spark that got the Indians rolling again.
Carter ignited the surge with a field goal and then Petty fired in two 3-pointers and Terrence Hamilton added a bucket for a 58-46 advantage.
Carter scored 11 points in a six-minute span, keeping the Indians out front 76-64.
St. Andrews reduced the margin to 78-72 on a 3-point goal by Adam Frederic with 1:13 left in the game.
The Knights fouled repeatedly to stop the clock and get the ball back. The Indians scored their last nine points at the free-throw line to wrap up the win.
“It was a good win for us.” said Baker. “We did not shoot as well at times as we have in earlier games, but we did well for the game.” The Indians made 45.1 percent (32 of 71) from the floor. They sank six of 23 from 3-point range.
“We played well defensively,” addedBaker.
ST. ANDREWS (78) — Ivanauskas 17, Skeens 20, Kirk 12, Harris 11, Johnson 11, Frederic 7.
CATAWBA (87) — Carter 25, Hamilton 10, Luyk 14, Petty 13, Phipps 8, Bryant 6, Jernigan 3, Robertson 2, Parks 2, Proctor 4.
St. Andrews 32 46 — 78
Catawba 44 43 — 87
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