Staff report

ROCK HILL — Catawba’s men’s basketball team pulverized Wingate 80-62 on Thursday.

It was a surprisingly overwhelming victory that could put Catawba in the Southeast Regional.

For certain it put the Indians in Friday night’s championship game in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The winner of the 7 p.m. Catawba-Lincoln Memorial matchup in Rock Hill gets the league’s automatic regional berth.

Catawba, Wingate and Lincoln Memorial tied for first in the regular season.

Catawba jumped on Wingate 12-2 right away, led by 29-12 after eight minutes, and was in control 43-28 at halftime.

With a 21-12 edge in the turnover battle and 16 offensive rebounds, Catawba had a 74-53 advantage in shot attempts. The Indians also shot more accurately than the Bulldogs, who were held to 37,7 percent shooting and made only two 3-pointers. SAC Player of the Year Donell Nixon was held to 11 points. Vontez Roberts led the second-seeded Bulldogs (22-8) with 18 poiuts.

Third-seeded Catawba (21-5) had its usual balance, with five in double figures. Peyton Gerald scored 15. O’Mazeon Tinsley scored 12. Kaleb Wallace scored 11, and DeAngelo Epps and Javeon Jones added 10 each.

Gerald blocked four shots. Montraivis White had five assists.

Catawba     43    37    — 80

Wingate     28     34    — 62

CATAWBA — Gerald 15, Tinsley 12, Wallace 11, Jones 10, Epps 10, Robinson 8, Thomas 6, White 5, Nelson 3.