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WINGATE, N.C. - Dominick Reid scored 18 points, including a 3-pointer that snapped a 72-all tie with 3:49 remaining, to lead unbeaten Catawba (N.C.) to an 86-81 win over Northern Kentucky University in a battle of nationally ranked NCAA Division II teams Sunday. Catawba (6-0) built a 55-35 lead early in the second half on a dunk by Donzell Williams. NKU stormed back with a 31-8 run - including 18 unanswered points - to take a 66-63 advantage with 6:43 left in the game on Leslie Malone’s short jumper. A’Daeron Duncan sparked the Norse spurt by scoring eight of his career-high 20 points during the run. With the score tied at 72-all, Reid knocked down a 3-pointer to give Catawba the lead for good. The 23rd-ranked Indians extended the lead to 80-72 when Reid made another 3-pointer with 2:23 remaining. “Those shots by (Reid) were crucial, especially after the way we fought back to take the lead,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold said. “We used a lot of energy to get back into it. Give Catawba all the credit, because they hit some big shots down the stretch.” NKU pulled to within three points (82-79) with 1:14 left when Duncan knocked down a 3-pointer, but Rob Fields responded with a dunk to extend Catawba’s advantage to 84-79. Isaac Rose sealed the win for Catawba by making two free throws with seven seconds left. Antonio Houston led the Indians with 20 points, and Fields added 17 off the bench. Catawba was 28-for-34 from the free-throw line and shot 48.1 percent from the field. Malone scored 14 points for NKU (4-2), which lost for the second straight day at the OrthoCarolina Classic. The Norse entered the two-day event ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. DeAaron Williams finished with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), while Dustin Maguire added 12 points. The Norse shot 50 percent from the field but were 4-for-22 from 3-point range. NKU begins Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday night at Indianapolis. |
