Staff report

SALISBURY — Lander’s Bearcats controlled the game at Goodman Arena for 37 minutes on Friday, but the Catawba Indians won it.

Catawba’s men’s basketball team opened a new season with a 97-96 victory that required an improbable rally.

Justin Banks’ dunk follow, in the final seconds, provided the margin between victory and defeat.

Lander (0-1) had an overwhelming advantage at the 3-point line, making 13, while the Indians were shooting a dismal 4-for-22.

Catawba was able to off-set that with a 16-10 edge in the turnover battle and a 52-41 advantage on the boards. Catawba had 30 second-chance points to Lander’s 12.

Lander established a 44-36 halftime lead and began adding to it in the second half. Lander led by 16 at 91-75 with only three minutes left.

Kris Robinson’s 3-pointer at the 2:58 mark officially started a Catawba rally that the Bearcats couldn’t stop.

When Robinson made two free throws with 1:18 left, the Indians had pulled within 95-93.

He made two more free throws after a Lander technical foul to get the Indians within 96-95 with 13 seconds left.

Robinson missed on Catawba’s final possession, but Banks was there to put it back in.

Robinson scored 18 for the Indians, while Banks had 17. Nick Walker scored 15 and pulled down 12 rebounds.

Dominic Stanford scored 33 for Lander. Terry Leonard made six 3-pointers and scored 20.

Catawba plays at USC Aiken on Sunday.

 

Lander   44-52 — 96

Catawba  36-61 — 97

Catawba scoring — Robinson 18, Banks 17, Walker 15, Tinsley 10, McDuffie 8, Athie 7, Tucker 7, White 6, Jones 5, Hawkins 4.