Point guard Malik Leach, a freshman from Perquimans, drives to the basket on Monday night in the Red Hawks’ home victory over Southern Wesleyan./PHOTO BY CODY DALTON, CATAWBA VALLEY ATHLETICS
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) continued undefeated on Monday night in men’s basketball, erasing a halftime deficit to beat visiting Southern Wesleyan 88-64 and improve to 3-0.
The Red Hawks haven’t been 3-0 since the 2015-16, and they go for a 4-0 start on Wednesday at 7 p.m., facing traditional rival Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) at the Tarlton Complex.
Isayah Johnson paced CVCC with a season-high 17 points on Monday night. He was one of four Red Hawks in double-figure, along with freshmen Quade Parks (12 points), Zach De La Cruz (11 points) and Sal-Bey Young (11 points).
Devon Brewster paced Southern Wesleyan with 16 points, while Deven Jackson added 11.
The Warriors surged ahead early behind nine made 3-point baskets in the first half, including four by Brewster, two by Ethan Harmon and one each by Dallas Grant, Andrew Van Norden and Kevin Stamper.
Southern Wesleyan led by as many as 15 points in the first half and led 45-43 at the half.
After some defensive adjustments at the break, the Red Hawks went on a 22-9 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half — a stretch that included two thunderous dunks by Johnson, who scored 10 of his 17 points in the half.
The Red Hawks also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 13-of-18 attempts in the second half and 23-of-30 overall. Parks was a team-best 10-for-10 for CVCC, which outscored Southern Wesleyan 45-19 in the second half.
— Reported by CVCC Sports Information