SALISBURY, N.C. — Jordan Simpson led four players in double-figure scoring with his 19 points as the Catawba Indians posted a 93-75 South Atlantic Conference victory over Tusculum Saturday afternoon at Goodman Arena.
Catawba (16-6, 11-5 SAC) remains undefeated at home this year (9-0) while avenging a one-point loss at Tusculum in December to split the season series. The Pioneers (8-14, 4-11 SAC) have lost four in a row and nine of its last 10.
Simpson knocked down five 3-pointers on the afternoon, while Zion McDuffie added 17 points and Jashaun Hawkins and Jacob Bryant finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Twelve (12) different players found their way into the scoring column for the Catawba Indians.
Tusculum’s Bryce Jackson posted 18 points, Jordan Attia added 12, Naim Ibroci had a season-best 11 and Malachi Hale finished with 10 markers. TJ Printup tallied nine points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Damjan Vukcevic had eight points for the visitors.
Catawba used runs of 13-0 and 8-0 in the first period as the Catawba Indians took a 47-32 lead at halftime. Simpson poured in 13 of his team-high 19 points in the first half, Tusculum had a scoring drought that lasted nearly four minutes as Catawba distanced themselves from the visitors.
Catawba made 11 of its first 16 field goal tries in the second half to push its advantage out to 77-56 and later extended to its largest lead of the contest at 85-60.
Catawba finished the game shooting 31-of-65 from the floor including 11-of-30 from three-point territory. The Catawba Indians also posted 14 offensive rebounds resulting in 27 second-chance points and went 20-of-29 from the free throw line.
Tusculum ended the day shooting 23-of-56 from the field and 21-of-31 from the charity stripe.
Jackson moves up the TU scoring ladder as his 1,134 career points are the 24th-most in program history as he moves past James Boshears (1117 – 1993-1996). Jackson also recorded his 300th career made free throw, which are the seventh-most by a Pioneer.
Tusculum will play its next three games at home beginning with Wednesday’s rematch with Mars Hill. The Pioneers recorded a 77-60 victory over the Lions in December’s first meeting at Mars Hill.
