Wingate, N.C.----Catawba College senior forward Donald Rutherford (Morganton, N.C.) equaled his career-high with 30 points as the visiting Indians edged Wingate University 75-73 Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action at Cuddy Arena. Rutherford added a game-high 13 rebounds to complete his fifth double-double of the season.

Rutherford’s game-winning follow shot with seven seconds remaining helped Catawba push its record to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in the SAC. Wingate is 11-10 overall and 4-6 in the SAC. The Bulldogs have lost three home conference games by a combined five points.

Wingate called two time-outs after the Rutherford put-back to design the final play. Bulldog freshman forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) missed a baseline jumper with two seconds remaining. Classmate Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) got the rebound, but his successful tip-in came after the final buzzer.

Rutherford and the CatU reserves outscored the Wingate bench 55-15. Catawba senior guard Rob Fields (Orangeburg, S.C.) had 13 points in a reserve role. Senior swing man Antonio Houston (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 13 points, six rebounds and five assists for the visitors.

Alexander had 18 points and five rebounds for the Bulldogs. He hit six-of-eight field goals Wednesday night. Wingate freshman guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added 17 points, six rebounds and three steals. Turner had 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Catawba freshman center Lee Martin (Mount Airy, N.C.) hit a jumper from a Houston feed to put the visitors up 72-67 with 3:06 remaining. Turner single-handedly brought the Bulldogs within one. He hit a short jumper and followed with a steal at mid-court.

The Indians fouled Turner intentionally, giving the Myers Park High School product two free throws. Turner connected, making the score 72-71 Catawba with 2:30 to play. Rutherford hit one of two free throws with 1:52 left to give the visitors a two-point edge.

Matilus hit a long jumper on an assist from senior guard Larry Staley (Charlotte, N.C.), tying the score 73-73 with 36 seconds to play. Martin missed a short jumper on the other end, but Rutherford was in the right place at the right time to give Catawba the season series sweep.

Wingate led 20-10 on a steal and jumper by freshman guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) with 12:04 left in the opening frame. Catawba finished the first half on a 28-10 run to take a 38-30 lead at intermission. A Fields triple made the score 38-28 with 13 seconds to go in the first stanza. Kincaid hit a jumper in the paint with one second remaining to settle the halftime score.

Catawba shot 55.6 percent in the second half (15-of-27). For the game, the Indians hit 45.9 percent of their field goals (28-of-61). Catawba converted nine-of-20 three-point field goals (45 percent), compared to Wingate’s five-of-13 effort from downtown (38.5 percent).

The Bulldogs hit 27-of-64 field goals Wednesday (42.2 percent). Catawba edged Wingate 37-36 on the rebounding charts. Wingate recorded 20 fast-break points, compared to nine fast-break points by Catawba.

Wingate hits the road next Wednesday, visiting Tusculum College for an 8 p.m. SAC contest. Catawba hosts Tusculum Saturday at 4 p.m. in Goodman Gymnasium.