Catawba uses big second half to get by Carson-Newman, 109-100
Feb. 9, 2009
SALISBURY, NC -- Rob Fields (Orangeburg, SC/Orangeburg-Wilkerson HS) and Finnur Magnusson (Reykjavik, ICELAND/Wesleyan Academy) each scored career highs to lead Catawba to a 109-100 win over visiting Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action on Monday night at Goodman Gym. The 25th-ranked Catawba Indians snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the SAC. The Eagles fall to 6-15 and 3-6.
Fields scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half, while Magnusson did not miss a shot on the evening to notch his 16 points. The senior was a perfect six-of-six from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and added two free throws. Antonio Houston (Charlotte, NC/E. Mecklenburg HS) collected 20 points and Isaac Rose (Jonesville, NC/W. Forsyth HS) added 16.
Catawba overcame a 50-43 halftime deficit, scoring 66 points in the second half. The Indians hit on 23-of-34 shots (67.6%) in the final 20 minutes and were a perfect 18-of-18 at the line after the break. Catawba finished the game shooting 56.2% from the floor one game after a hitting a season-low 31% in a loss to Tusculum. Catawba had shot below 40% in each of its previous four games, all losses.
Carson-Newman led by as many as 11 points in the first half the last at 42-31 with 2:48 before the break. Catawba took its first second-half lead on a tip-in by Magnusson at 61-59 with 14:18 to go and went on top for good on a dunk by Houston with 13:01 remaining at 68-66.
Fields helped keep Catawba in front with three straight baskets and Rose pushed the lead to ten at 89-79 on a three-point play with 7:54 left. Zach Hyatte (Dayton, TN) trimmed the Catawba lead to 105-100 with 25 seconds remaining, but Fields hit four free throws in the final 24 seconds for the final margin.
The Eagles connected on 48% from the floor and made 13 three-pointers, but were only 5-of-15 from long range in the second half. Joey Cameron (Tuskegee, AL) led five double-figure scorers for Carson-Newman with 22 points and added three blocked shots. Jesse McMurray (Weber City, VA) followed with 16 points, hitting on four three-pointers, but had only two points in the second half. Hyatte and Jared Stephens (Oak Ridge, TN) each had 13 points.
Carson-Newman returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Lenoir-Rhyne. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.
