From staff reports
Catawba’s men’s basketball team returned to action on Thursday evening at Belmont Abbey.
It didn’t go well.
Belmont Abbey’s Crusaders won, 97-84, as short-handed Catawba allowed a season high in points.
Catawba (5-6) lost two key players to injury in practice — with standout Jerrin Morrison (sprained ankle) and freshman post Jeremy McLaughlin going down for a while.
Belmont Abbey (3-7) had a great shooting day — 60 percent from the floor and 11-for-27 on 3-pointers.
Catawba shot 39 percent, including a dismal 4-for-23 on 3-pointers.
Jameel Taylor led Catawba with 21 points and was 9-for-9 at the line. Rakeen Brown had 15 points.
Julian Sampah and Jordan Barber scored 11 each, while Andrew Ingram added 10.
Ray Chen paced the Crusaders with 19 points and eight assists. Former Hickory Ridge star Nick Hough had 17 for the Crusaders.
The teams traded buckets in the first half. Belmont Abbey moved out to a double-digit lead early in the second half with a 10-2 spurt.
Catawba hosts North Greenvilleat Goodman Gym at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Scoring totals are in Scoreboard.
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Augusta’s Keshun Sherrill (West Rowan) scored 26 points to lead a 70-61 win at Wingate on Thursday.
Sherrill shot 4-for-5 on 3-pointers and 8-for-10 on free throws.

Livingstone hoops
After an extended holiday break, Livingstone’s basketball teams will return to the hardwood Saturday for CIAA games.
The Blue Bears will host Lincoln on Saturday at New Trent Gymnasium. The women will tip-off at 2 p.m., with the men’s game following.
This will be the first home game of the season for the men. The Blue Bears played their first 11 on the road.

D-I Women’s hoops
Kennesaw State’s Kelly Dulkoski (Carson) made four 3-pointers in a 70-41 romp over Thomas.
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UNC Asheville’s Kelli Fisher (East Rowan) had five points and four rebounds in a 63-55 win against Winthrop.
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Karleigh Wike (East Rowan) had six points and six rebounds in a 71-51 loss to Virginia.
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Texas Tech’s Brielle Blaire (North Rowan) had four points and five rebounds in a 78-69 loss to TCU.
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Morehead State’s Shay Steele (West Rowan) had six points and five rebounds in a 93-78 loss to UC-Santa Barbara.

First Pitch Dinner
Catawba baseball will host a First Pitch Dinner on Friday, Jan. 22 at the Peeler Crystal Lounge on the Catawba campus.
Marty Brennaman, longtime radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds will be a guest speaker at the event.
Brennaman began his career in Salisbury, broadcasting high school football, Catawba football and basketball and Rowan County American Legion baseball games. He has served as the voice of the Reds since 1974.
The dinner will begin with a cocktail hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with the dinner going from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Catawba’s professional players — Jerry Sands, Nick Lomascolo, Chris Dula, Paul Kronenfeld and Craig Brooks — are scheduled to be at the event.
Cost for the dinner is $75 with all proceeds going to support the baseball program.
Contact Joey Knight at 704-637-4394 or register online at www.catawba.edu/firstpitch.

Prep baseball
Senior Sawyer Strickland, a member of the Greater Cabarrus Homeschool Stallions, has committed to Catawba’s baseball program.
Strickland has done well for the Rowan County American Legion team.
He shined in the state tournament at Newman Park with a big save against Caldwell County.