From staff reports

East Rowan’s boys basketball team got 20 points from Austin Love and won at Carson 62-59 to open the season on Tuesday.

Bravon Goodlett (13), Tay Davis (10) and Naquis Caldwell (10) also scored in double figures for the Mustangs in the SPC victory.

East Rowan is coming off a 4-18 season in which it went  2-14 in the SPC, but the Mustangs appear to be much quicker and much improved.

Marquez McCain scored 16 pints and Jamarius Hairston had 15 for the Cougars, who fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the SPC.

East Rowan led 25-19 at halftime, but the pace picked up considerably in the second half.

Down double digits early in the fourth quarter, Carson took advantage of East Rowan misses at the foul line and fought back within a single point late.

Goodlett made two clutch free throws with 3.6 seconds left to push the lead to three points, and Carson missed a desperate 3-point shot before the horn.

Love and Goodlett combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter.

 

EAST (62) 

Love 20, Goodlett 13,  Davis 10, Caldwell 10, Sa. Wyrick 7, Se. Wyrick 2, Bradshaw, Elliott, Shuping.

CARSON (59) 

McCain 16, Hairston 15, Raper 8, Hogue 7, Bearden 4, Isom 4, Herron 2, Rucker 2, Wesbrook 1.

East           11   14         12     25    —   62

Carson      10     9          13    27     —  59

College hoops

Livingstone’s Hakeem Jackson was named CIAA Player of the Week for men’s basketball.

Jackson scored 33 points gainst Washington Adventist and averaged 22.0 points per game for the week on 55.2-percent shooting.

• Livingstone’s men play at Queens at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, while the LC women host Catawba at  7 p.m.

• Livingstone’s Anita Howard was named CIAA Coach of the Week for women’s basketball. The Blue Bears are off to a 5-0 start.

• Catawba’s men play at Chowan Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

NCHSAA

Chapel Hill quarterback Connor Stough and Weddington basketball player Stephanie Watts were the NCHSAA’s athletes of the week.

Sun Belt

Appalachian State  has made a splash in its first year in the Sun Belt Conference, as it tops the standings for the 2014-15 Bubas Cup, the league’s all-sports championship, through the fall sports seasons.

8th-grade hoops

Knox’s girls won 42-37 against Corriher-Lipe.

Bryanna Troutman scored 14 points for the Trojans (5-0). Taccora Robinson had 13, and Taylor Bailey had 10.

Jineka Glenn played great defense.

Janiya Downs led the Yellow Jackets, who lost for the first time, with 19 points.

Rhiannon Kimmer scored 10 for Corriher-Lipe.

• Corriher-Lipe’s girls won 51-12 against China Grove with Downs scoring 21. Kimmer had seven, Ashlyn Plott scored six, and Haley Brigman had five.

Jayvee hoops

Jailen Williams and A.J. Banks scored 15 points each as Carson’s boys won 56-46 against East Rowan.

Cameron Prugh scored seven for the Cougars.

SPC hoops

Stacia Means scored 11 points and Laura McManimen had 10 as Hickory Ridge’s girls beat Cox Mill 45-42  Tuesday.  Rachel Barker scored 10 for the Chargers.