Staff report

Catawba’s men’s basketball team returned from a three-week layoff and edged Mars Hill 83-81 at Goodman Gym on Saturday.

Marcus Burwell made a layup with two seconds left to decide the South Atlantic Conference contest.

Catawba (3-5, 3-5) got a big game from Tyrek Williams, who was making his season debut. Williams sored 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.

Larry McLeod scored 16, including three key buckets late in the contest.

Terrence Whitfield scored 13, while DJ Johnson had 10.

Catawba had a 42-28 edge on the glass and shot 48.6 percent. The Indians committed only eight turnovers.

Mars Hill (1-5, 1-5) stayed in it with 10-for-25 3-point shooting and got 21 points from Reggie Wright.

Catawba hosts Coker at 6 p.m. on Monday.

 

MARS HILL (81) — Wright 21, I. Johnson 16, Gilyard 14, Cooke 12, Reid 7, Daniel 6, Hogue 5.

CATAWBA (83) — Williams 20, McLeod 16, Whitfield 13, D. Johnson 10, Drummond 9, Burwell 7, Bowen 6, Robinson 2, Phillips, Pelote, Burt.

Mars Hill   43   38   — 81

Catawba   47   36   — 83