Staff report

LEXINGTON — Trouble lurks just about everywhere on the road in the Central Carolina Conference. League-leading Salisbury was fortunate to pull out a 62-52 overtime victory at Central Davidson on Thursday.

“We’ve got an underrated league, and I think a lot of these teams improved, playing in their Christmas tournaments,” Salisbury coach Bryan Withers said. “When the playoffs come around, I think this league will do OK.”

Withers wasn’t upset that his team struggled on Thursday against a middle-of-the-pack team that didn’t have Marquise Jordan, Central’s marquee player for much of the season.

“Central Davidson didn’t have Jordan, but they played inspired basketball without him,” Withers said. “They started hot, we got way down, and (Salisbury point guard) Trell Baker got hurt, but through it all we kept playing and we kept fighting, I’m so proud that we found a way.”

Salisbury was down 23-12 after a quarter, but clawed back to a 33-27 deficit at halftime. Entering the fourth quarter, Central led 43-36 and the Spartans tried to slow the pace.

“We did a good job defensively,” Withers said. “We got after it and we got stop after stop in the fourth quarter.”

Outscoring Central 14-4 in the final eight minutes, the Hornets forced overtime.

Then the Hornets (15-2, 12-1) took charge in the extra period with more tough defense and maintained a firm grip on first place in the CCC.

Xavier Kesler led Salisbury with 16 points. Oshaun Robinson  had 11, and Baker managed 10. Jahbreal Russell, Cameron Gill and Bill Fisher scored eight each. Jaquan Davis and Elijah Moss contributed defensively.

“We got it from a lot of guys tonight,” Withers said. “Good team effort.”

Jacob Myers and David Banner scored 13 each for Central (9-8, 6-7).

Salisbury had blistered the Spartans, 76-44, in the first meeting.

Salisbury is home tonight against last-place Oak Grove. The Hornets haven’t lost at home.

SALISBURY (62) — Kesler 16, Robinson 11, Baker 10, Russell 8, Gill 8, Fisher 8, Davis 1, Moss, Rogers.

C. DAVIDSON (52) — Banner 13, Myers 13, Spainhour 9, Leonard 9, McGath 7, Smith 1.

Salisbury        12   15   9   12   14      — 62

C. Davidson   23  10  10  5     4      —  52