By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — Despite a rough start, the East Rowan Mustangs stuck to their game plan Tuesday night and made it pay off with an impressive road win at West Rowan, 55-49.

After trailing by as many as 16 in the early stages, the Mustangs chipped away before finally catching the Falcons at 36-36 late in the third quarter. Seniors Austin Love and Naquis Caldwell then took control of the game in the final period as East (5-16, 3-12 SPC)  got the key plays they needed in the final two minutes.

“I just didn’t want to lose at West in my last game here,” said Caldwell who posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. ” I told the team we had to finish the game and go out strong.”

After Love and Paiton File hit three pointers to put East up 44-43 with under three minutes left, Caldwell, a 6-3 senior , made it his personal mission to wrap up the game. He made two tough shots inside and grabbed three critical rebounds as East went up 48-45 with :50 seconds remaining. Bravon Goodlett and Lucas Morton then made it stand by connecting on 7 of 10 foul shots in the waning seconds.

“Our guys are really playing harder now and getting after it on defense,” Mustang coach Kurt Misenheimer said as his team won two in a row for the first time this season. “We want to finish the season strong and we are noticing a big change in our senior leadership.

Misenheimer said the game plan all along was to use their 2-3 zone defense to limit scoring chances inside for West Rowan’s dominate center Caleb Mauldin. The 6-7 sophomore still put up some impressive numbers with 23 points and 17 rebounds but he was neutralized to a great extent by the collapsing East Rowan zone in the final period. The Falcons ( 7-13, 5-9 SPC) poured in eight three-pointers in the first half as they led 19-3 early and 32-23 at the half.

But a miserable third quarter with only six points by West enabled the visiting Mustangs to climb back into the game.  “We played the percentages in the second half and their shots just didn’t fall,” Misenheimer noted.

“I give all the credit to East Rowan,” Falcon coach Mike Gurley said. “We got some good shots in the second half, but they just didn’t drop. We came out in the second half and our first four or five possessions were just nothing. I tell you I really like my team but we are just in a learning curve right now. ”

In addition to Caldwell’s strong game, Love led the Mustangs with 15 points and seven rebounds while Morton had 12 including 7 of 8 free throws. Mauldin’s monster game for the Falcons was their primary weapon. Stolsworth  had nine and guard Martavio Rankin added 8.

West has to try and bounce back against the top two teams in the South Piedmont conference this week. They host first place Concord on Thursday then bring in the second place JM Robinson Bulldogs on Friday. East also face Robinson at home on Thursday.

East Rowan (55) — Love 15, Morton 12, Caldwell 11, Bravon Goodlett 7, File 7, Brevin Goodlett 2, Scruggs 1, Shuping.

West Rowan (49) — Mauldin 23, Stolsworth 9, Rankin 8, Warren 6, Day 2, Love 1, Delgado, Myers, Powers.

E. Rowan     7  16  13  19 — 55

W. Rowan   19   13  6  11 — 49