SALISBURY —  “If we hold ’em to 100, we win,” said Catawba coach Rob Perron, who was torn between laughing and crying.

Catawba lost Tuesday to the fast-paced Newberry Wolves 108-101 in SAC action at Goodman Gym. It was an instant classic, but that didn’t make Perron feel any better.

Newberry coach Dave Davis is like a big brother to Perron. Perron served on Davis’ staff for many years at Pfeiffer and later joined him at Newberry as a key assistant before getting his chance as Catawba’s head coach.

Davis’ team weathered a storm of 3-pointers and dunks by Catawba freshman Jerrin Morrison, who produced a breakout performance. Morrison’s 39-point night included 29 in a breathtaking second half.

“I hit a couple of 3s, and then I got a dunk, and it was like the rim opened up and kept getting wider for me,” Morrison said. “It was just a blessed game, like there was an angel watching over me. Everything I threw up went in.”

Morrison was human in the first half. K.J. Arrington started strong for the Indians, and Catawba led 27-24 after Arrington drilled a spinning jumper. But Newberry (6-0, 3-0) dominated the last seven minutes of the half to take a 47-36 lead at the break.

While the first half was ordinary, the second half wasn’t. Catawba shot 62.2 percent in the second half, while Newberry shot 56.3 percent. Newberry hit 16 3-pointers in the game, while Catawba made 12.

“It was one of the most amazing games I’ve ever been a part of,” Davis said. “So many guys on both teams hit the kind of shots that win games. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to fold up. And then those last eight minutes were just absolutely amazing.”

Ben Sealey and Jameel Taylor, two more newcomers, made a pair of 3-pointers and gave the Indians an 84-77 lead with 6:10 left.

But that’s when Newberry turned it on.

“You’ve got to give that team and that coach a lot of credit,” Morrison said. “We’d hit a 3-pointer, and then they’d hit one. We’d get a dunk, and they’d make a layup. They stayed composed no matter what we did.”

Ironically, the game was finally decided with an exhausted Morrison sitting. He came out for a blow with the score 90-all. The Indians were down 102-95 a few minutes later.

“What Newberry really does well is they value every possession,” Perron said. “And there were seven or eight possessions where we didn’t get matched up right.”

Morrison hit 3s to bring Catawba (2-3, 1-2) within 102-98 with 1:17 left, but Newberry’s Dondray Walker, double-teamed and trapped in front of the Newberry bench, fired a pass to a cutting Mitch Riggs for a backbreaking layup with 49 seconds left.

“We had two timeouts left, and I started to use one,” Davis said. “But it was Dondray, so I figured he’d be OK.”

Newberry had six men in double figures, led by 24 by Demarkus Smith. Four Indians scored in double figures.

“There aren’t any moral victories,” Perron said. “But it’s a process and we moved a step forward. We’ve got four new guys playing well and veteran guys that have made them feel welcome. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”

NEWBERRY (108)

Smith 24, Stepp 18, Ashby 12, Riggs 12, Walker 11, B. Taylor 10, Holmes 9, Hill 6, Evans 4, Burns 2.

CATAWBA   (101)

Morrison 39, Arrington 18, Brown 13, Perkins 12, Sealey 9, J. Taylor 6, Marijosius 4, Warren, Henderson.

Newberry 47  61  —  108

Catawba  36  65—  101