College Basketball: Morrison leads Indians to road win

Published 11:19 am Wednesday, November 22, 2017

From Catawba sports information

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Jerrin Morrison scored 38 points in leading Catawba to an 83-72 win over host Winston-Salem State in men’s basketball action on Tuesday night at the Gaines Center. The win levels the Catawba Indians record at 2-2, while the Rams fall to 1-4.

Morrison finished one point off his career-high of 39 points which he set as a freshman in overtime against Newberry. The senior canned 12-of-23 shots, went 6-of-11 from behind the arc and made all eight free throw attempts. Malik Constantine added 14 points and RJ Robinson 11. Jeremy McLaughlin picked up eight points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Winston-Salem State took a 39-32 lead to the break, but it was all Catawba in the second half. An 8-0 run that was capped by a pair of Morrison’s three erased the deficit in the first two and half minutes of the final half. WSSU took its last lead at 44-42 before a three-pointer by Jordan Barber put the Indians up for good with 15:01 left.

Catawba pulled away over the final 10 minutes. A 12-2 run pushed the lead to 70-54. Morrison had five points to start the run. The Indians kept a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

The Indians shot 45  percent for the game and sank 55 percent in the second half, going 18-for-33. Catawba also held a 42-37 edge on the boards and committed four less turnovers.

Robert Colon scored 22 points off the bench to lead the Rams. Jamel McCallister added 13 points with William Crandall posting a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. After hitting 48 percent in the first half, the Rams hit on just 35 percent in the second half and went 0-for-11 in three-pointer after the break.

Catawba returns to action next Wednesday as the Indians travel to face nationally ranked Queens at 8 pm.