Lions drop heartbreaker against Catawba
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (9-7, 3-7 SAC) fell to Catawba (12-4, 7-3 SAC) late on Saturday afternoon.
Mars Hill carried a 40-35 lead after the first half. Gabe Erbeck led all players with 10 points, going 4-of-7 from the floor and leading the team with four rebounds. Keenan Wilkins added seven points while Ashton Troutman and Jon Brandtner added six points apiece. The trio of Troutman, Wilkins, and Carson Evans added two assists.
The Lions shot 50 percent from beyond the arc, going 4-of-8 while hitting 54 percent of their shots from the floor (15-of-28).
Catawba responded in the second half, outscoring Mars Hill 32-25 with four clutch points in the final minutes from Nick Walker. He led the team with eight points in the frame, going 3-for-3 from the floor with five rebounds.
Wilkins led the Lions with nine points in the half, followed by six from Erbeck.
Walker and Ibra Athie led Catawba with 11 points while Walker and Chase Daniel led the team with six rebounds.
Both Wilkins and Erbeck led the Lions with 16 points and six rebounds. Wilkins added a game-high four assists. Both Troutman and Brandtner ended the night with eight points apiece.
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, January 10 when they face Carson-Newman. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium.
