MURFREESBORO – Facing a team that is ranked 14th in National Collegiate Atheltic Association Division II with a perfect 4-0 record and an average margin of victory of 22 points may intimidate some teams.

Chowan College was not one of them as the Braves came within seven points of knocking off Catawba College, falling to the Indians, 76-69.

The Braves took an early 5-2 lead after a foul shot and bucket from Isaac McCall and Jon Dyer’s jumper.

The teams traded baskets with Catawba ahead by as many as six, but a trey from Roderick Ramsay tied the score at 17.

Jorvewe Gibson’s bucket put the Indians back out front but, following a Catawba technical, Chris Owens sank two free throws for the tie.

The score remained close throughout the remainder of the first half.

With just over two minutes on the clock, Marcus Artis converted a three-point play to tie Catawba at 37.

The Indians rattled off six points to pull ahead, but a dunk from Trayvon Lathan at the buzzer pulled the Braves to within four, 43-39.

Catawba outscored Chowan 11-4 to open the second half, taking their biggest lead of the game, 54-43.

A Ramsey foul shot and Artis put-back cut the lead to eight, but Jamal Hamilton answered with a fading jumper for the Indians.

Chowan posted consecutive baskets several times, including back-to-back buckets from Dyer, but Catawba answered each time.

The Braves cut the lead to six, 69-63, with under three minutes remaining after a basket by Lathan, but they could get no closer.

Lathan led the Braves with 15 points and one steal.

Artis added 13 points and four steals while McCall and Dyer scored 10 apiece.

&uot;I felt like we accomplished some things as a young team playing against an experienced team,&uot; said Chowan head coach Jim Tribbett. &uot;We were able to control the tempo.

Both teams had the same turnovers, but Catawba was able to score and we were not able to capitalize on their mistakes.&uot;

Rebounding also hurt the Braves as Catawba had 27 offensive rebounds, scoring 23 second chance points.

Chowan was able to get quality minutes from Dyer, a freshman.

&uot;He really showed why we recruited him in the second half,&uot; said Tribbet.

Dyer was 5-5 from the field and had two blocks.

Lathan was recognized prior to the game for becoming the fourth Chowan player to score 1,000 points.

The loss drops Chowan to 2-3 overall.

The Braves will play in the Roger Taylor Invitational Friday at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Catawba (76):

Chris Woolridge – 18, Helgi Magnusson – 13, Jolly Manning – 12, Andy Thompson – 11, B.Graves – 9, A. Murphy – 4, J. Hamilton – 4, J. Diggs – 3, J. Gibson – 2.

Chowan (69):

Trayvon Lathan – 15, Marcus Artis – 13, Isaac McCall – 10, Jon Dyer – 10, R. Ramsay – 9, C. Owens – 5, C. Kenon – 3, M. Williams – 2, G. Miller – 2