By Horace Billings

Salisbury Post

Catawba’s men’s basketball team used a strong stretch run to turn back Mars Hill 83-61 in a SAC game played Wednesday night at Goodman Gym.

The Indians controlled the first half, led 37-31 at halftime and outscored the Lions 46-30 in the second half to seal the victory.

The Lions cut their deficit to 53-48 with about 11 minutes left to play, but that was a wake-up call for Catawba. The Indians shifted into high gear, answered the challenge with a blazing 22-3 run and led 75-51with 3:56 remaining.

Catawba (8-8, 3-2) bounced back from a loss at Presbyterian with a balanced attack. Five players scored in double figures.

Antonio Houston led the way with 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting.

Rob Fields followed with 13 points. He hit two 3-pointers and shot 5-for-7 from the floor.

Chris Wooldridge, Ahmad Murphy and Donzell Williams collected 11 points apiece.

Wooldridge grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Indians made 43.8 percent (32-for-73) from the field, including six 3-pointers. They hit 13 free throws.

P. J. Gore scored 11 points, and Stoney Polite had 10 for the Lions (6-8, 2-3).

“We really played well in the second half,” said Catawba coach Jim Baker. “It was a good win for us. We had 20 assists. That was good.”

MARS HILL (61) — Gore 11, Polite 10, McIver 9, Walford 8, Miller 6, Aline 6, Green 4, Ammar 3, Moses 2, Pickering 2.

CATAWBA (83) — Houston 14, Fields 13, Murphy 11, Williams 11, Wooldridge 11, Monroe 7, Magnusson 5, Graves 4, Rose 3, Sossoman 2, Rutherford 2, Butler, Jones, Brinkley.

Mars Hill 31 30 — 61

Catawba 37 46 — 83