Salisbury, N.C.----Catawba College senior forward Donald Rutherford (Morganton, N.C.) hit 11-of-12 field goals en route to a career-high 25 points, helping the Indians outlast the Wingate University Bulldogs 95-89 Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action at Goodman Gymnasium.

With the victory, Catawba improves to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. Wingate falls for the first time in league play, slipping to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the SAC. The Bulldogs visit Carson-Newman College Wednesday, Jan. 13 for an 8 p.m. contest. Catawba travels to Tusculum College Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip.

Thanks to Rutherford and senior guard Rob Fields (Orangeburg, S.C.), the Catawba bench outscored the Wingate reserves 54-31. Fields had 15 points. Indian senior guard/forward Antonio Houston (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 16 points. Rutherford posted seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocked shots in addition to his game-high point total. 

Wingate freshman forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) led the visiting Bulldogs with 22 points. He narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Classmate Quan Alexander (Charotte, N.C.) added 13 points. Freshman guards Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) contributed 11 points each. Kincaid posted six rebounds and five assists on his statistical ledger Wednesday night. 

Catawba shot 60 percent (36-of-60) for the game and raced away from a two-point edge early in the second half. Leading 51-49, the Indians used an 8-1 spurt for a 59-50 lead with 15:23 remaining. A dunk by Rutherford pushed the lead to double digits and freshman center Lee Martin (Mount Airy, N.C.) upped the margin to 68-55 on a pair of free throws with 12:44 left.

The Indians eventually stretched the lead to 18 points before Wingate trimmed the deficit to six with several late baskets in the final minutes. Catawba was up 95-78 with 1:28 remaining. Indian junior guard Dominick Reid (Concord, N.C.) made things happen for the hosts, recording seven points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals Wednesday night.

Wingate rallied from an early nine-point deficit and took a 39-38 lead on a lay-up by Kincaid with 1:20 left before the break. Catawba reeled off the final seven points of the half to take a 45-39 lead at intermission. The Bulldogs kept pace with the Indians early, hitting 50 percent of their shots in the opening half. Wingate hit 38.9 percent in the second half, when Catawba heated up to can 62.5 percent.