Staff report

SALISBURY — Catawba’s men’s basketball team blistered Emory & Henry in the second half for an 85-65 victory and a share of the South Atlantic Conference championship.

Catawba finished in a three-way tie for first with Lincoln Memorial and Wingate, who also won on Saturday. Catawba will be seeded third for the SAC Tournament, as the Indians were 0-1 against Lincoln Memorial and 1-1 against Wingate.

Emory & Henry (5-23, 2-18) tied for last in the SAC, but had some runs against the Indians, including a 9-0 burst that provided a surprising 38-32 halftime lead at Goodman Arena on Catawba’s Senior Day.

Catawba (19-5, 16-4) got down by eight early in the second half, but then got serious and put together separate runs of 11-0 and  12-0 to exterminate the Wasps.

Kris Robinson made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points to lead the Catawba scoring parade. Peyton Gerald scored 12, while Kaleb Wallace, Montraivis White and O’Mazeon Tinsley collected 10 apiece.

Catawba had a 20-12 edge in the turnover battle, shot 48.4 percent and was 16-for-19 at the foul line.

Tournament action in Rock Hill will start on Wednesday for the Indians at 7:30 p.m., with sixth-seeded Coker providing the opposition.

Emory & Henry      38    27    — 65

Catawba                   32    53    — 85

CATAWBA — Robinson 13, Gerald 12, Tinsley 10, White 10, Wallace 10, Epps 9, Nelson 8, Banks 6, Jones 4, McDuffie 2, Thomas 1.