College men’s basketball: Walker explodes, Catawba survives

Staff report SALISBURY Catawbas mens basketball team normally scores by committee, but Nick Walkers takeover on Saturday was necessary.

Walker, a 6-foot-5 forward who came to Catawba by way of East Mississippi Community College, scored 33 points on 13-for-14 shooting and added eight rebounds as the Indians edged Emory & Henry 95-92 at Goodman Arena.

A home loss to last-place Emory & Henry (2-7, 0-5) would have been a disaster for the Indians, but they were able to pull out a 95-92 decision.

Ibra Athie contributed 18 points for the Indians, Kris Robinson got 11, and freshman Chase Daniel had a solid 22-minute start with seven points and four steals.

Catawba (5-4, 3-3) crushed the Wasps on the boards, 39-24, for a colossal 30-7 edge in second-chance points.

But there are no easy South Atlantic Conference games, and Emory & Henry, led by 26 points by Draven Pilson, made it exciting by shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and by making 13 3-pointers.

The visitors outscored Catawba 39-12 from the 3-point line.

But Walker did what he did in a career outing, and the Indians appeared to be in command until the final minutes when Emory & Henry mounted an 11-4 run to climb back within a single point of the Indians.

Montraivis White made two clutch free throws for the Indians for a three-point lead, and Catawba was able to get a final stop for the win.

Next for Catawba is a trip to Tusculum on Wednesday.

Emory & Henry 45 47 92 Catawba 42 53 95 CATAWBA scoring Walker 33, Athie 18, Robinson 11, White 8, Chase Daniel 7, Tinsley 6, McDuffie 5, Hilliard 4, Hawkins 3..

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