Staff report

BREVARD — Catawba’s Rakeen “Rock” Brown made a game-winning 3-pointer that turned a day of struggle for the Indians into a day of relief.
Brown’s tiebreaking shot in Boshamer Gym came with 5.5 seconds left and allowed Catawba to escape from Brevard with a 74-71 South Atlantic Conference victory.
“We didn’t have a lot of guys play well today,” Catawba coach Rob Perron said. “Rakeen didn’t have a very good day and I was really on hard on him. But he grew some and he showed a lot of toughness to make that shot at the end.”
It was Brown’s second game-winner this season. He also was clutch in a home game against Chowan.
Catawba (7-7, 5-3 SAC) couldn’t afford to lose at Brevard (2-11, 1-6 SAC), but it nearly happened. Brevard shot extremely well from the floor ( 51.8 percent), and the Indians had to overcome 19 turnovers.
“We were like a baseball team that manufactures a run,” Perron said. “We were able to manufacture a win.”
The key guy for the Indians was post man Troy Warren, who delivered 18 points. He was the constant as Catawba tried to solve Brevard’s matchup zone. The 6-foot-9 Warren had a height advantage inside.
“Troy wanted the ball and our guys wanted to give it to him,” Perron said. “Even after they made some adjustments, he was demanding the ball.”
Jerrin Morrison had seven turnovers, but he was good other than that. He scored 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. Jameel Taylor scored 12 points. Freshman Jeremy McLaughlin helped out with eight rebounds.
Nine Indians scored.
“A lot of guys chipped in to help Troy and we just passed the torch from one guy to the next offensively,” Perron said. “We had to fight through some bad turnovers. We turned it over two straight times when we had numbers and then they scored on the other end. That was a big swing. That was like an eight-point debacle.”
Warren and Morrison sparked Catawba’s second-half comeback.
Morrison’s driving layup tied the game 65-all. Taylor’s 3-pointer with 2:41 remaining put the Indians ahead 68-65.
With Catawba leading 68-67, Warren powered in a three-point play for a 71-67 lead with 1:18 left.
Brevard erased that deficit with a bucket my Miles Leathers, a steal, and game-tying free throws by Demarcus Street with 33 seconds left.
But Brown came through on Catawba’s final possession, and Alex Moe’s desperate 3-point attempt for the Tornados didn’t fall.
It was Catawba’s first road win of the season.
“The curse of the blue jerseys is finally over,” Perron said.
Leathers led Brevard with 20 points. Street had 15.
Catawba is tied for fourth in the SAC with Lenoir-Rhyne. Catawba hosts Wingate Wednesday night and will be at home for its next three games.

Catawba 74, Lenoir-Rhyne 71

CATAWBA (74)
Warren 18, Morrison 13, Taylor 12, Marijosius 6, Sealey 5, Perkins 5, Brown 5, Barber 3, McLaughlin, Sampah.
BREVARD (71)
Leathers 20, Threatt 15, El Diraoui 13, Williams 12, Bostick 5, Moe 4, Rambert 2.

Catawba 35 39 — 74
Brevard 40 31 — 71