NEWBERRY, S.C.: A strong second half comeback would not be enough for the Newberry College men's basketball team (7-3, 1-1 SAC) take a overtime loss to the Catawba College Indians, 97-95m to end their losing streak at seven.
 
Senior QuanDaveon McCollum (Clio, S.C.) had another double-double, leading the Wolves in both points with 21 and rebounds with 10. Senior TJ Brown (Columbia, S.C.) also had a huge game with 16 points, followed by freshman Drake Downs (Simpsonville, S.C.) with 13. 
 
Catawba jumped out to a 7-0 quickly at the start, but a jump-shot from sophomore Malik Joseph (Eleuthera, Bahamas) got the Wolves storming back on a 10-0 run of their own to take a 10-7 lead four minutes in. The back-and-forth battle began as the Wolves were able to keep a short lead until 4:22 left in the half when the Indians took their first lead since minutes in. Catawba kept that momentum going the rest of the half, leading 47-41 going into the break.
 
The Indians kept the makes going as they extended to their largest lead of the game of 17 with 15:27 left in the game. McCollum would have two layups, followed by a three-pointer from junior Andrew Robinson (Lexington, S.C.) would help spark a comeback to cut the deficit. Down eight with just 4:50 left in the game, a layup from sophomore Malakhi Stremlow (Traverse City, Mich.) followed by two sets of free throws from McCollum would set up a huge three-pointer from Robinson to get the Wolves back into the lead with 1:32 left. Catawba would fight back immediately, forcing the Wolves to overtime tied at 86.
 
Catawba would score the first four points of overtime and would hold the lead for most of the period. Sheppard would have layups on back-to-back possessions to tie the game with 25 seconds left, but a foul on the Wolves would force two Catawba free throws that were drained to give the Indians the win, 97-95.
 
The Wolves will hit the road next Wednesday December 14, as they travel to take on the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears at 7:30.