Catawba Takes Down UVA Wise 101-69 to Claim 2023 SAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship
GREENVILLE, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Catawba College Indians picked up their first South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship since 2019 with a 101-69 win over UVA Wise on Sunday (March 5). With the win the Catawba Indians earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament.
Catawba came out of the gate firing on all cylinders as they poured in 54 points and allowed just 28 points in the first half of action.
The Catawba turned up the heat in the second half scoring 47 more points and finished the game hitting 46.4 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three-point range. The Catawba Indians set several records during the game including the largest point differential, most rebounds in a game (57), most field goals made (39), most field goals attempted (84), and most assists (20).
Leading the way for Catawba was Javeon Jones with 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two assists. Also scoring in double figures were DeAngelo Epps with 17 points, Kris Robinson with 14 points, Dre Nelson with 13 points, Jerome Bivins with 12 points, and Peyton Gerald with 11 points.
UVA Wise was led by Bradley Dean with 21 points, followed by Luke Lawson with 17 points, and Patrick Shelley with 10 points. Dean ties a SAC Men's Basketball Tournament record for most points in the tournament with 84.
Jones was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, also earning all-tournament honors were:
2023 SAC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Martez Brown, Lincoln Memorial
Connor Jordan, Tusculum
Bradley Dean, UVA Wise
Luke Lawson, UVA Wise
Peyton Gerald, Catawba
DeAngelo Epps, Catawba
Javeon Jones, Catawba - MVP
-#MakeSACYours-
