HICKORY, N.C. — Freshman Cole Johnson scored 22 points and Jordan Powell added 21 points, leading the Catawba Valley Community College men's basketball team to a 97-85 victory against Wake Tech on Wednesday night at the Tarlton Complex.

With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 15-5 overall and 7-4 in Region X games this season.

In a up-and-down first half that saw CVCC lead by as many as five points and trail by as many as nine points, Catawba Valley gained a 44-43 advantage at halftime. Byron Sanders led the charge for CVCC with nine first-half points, while Johnson added seven points.

Behind a barrage of 3-point shooting and scoring, Catawba Valley used the first 5:39 of the second half to gain a 10-point advantage against Wake Tech. Jordan Powell and Byron Sanders both had five points during the early run.

The Red Hawks would hold that double-digit advantage for a majority of the second half, but the Eagles would close to as little as five points. However, CVCC made six of its 10 3-pointers during the half to extend its advantage and win by 12 points.

Powell recorded his seventh career double double with 10 rebounds to go with his 21 points for the Red Hawks, and Sanders recorded a career-high 18 points.

Tireek Wilder paced Wake Tech (10-9, 9-3) with 18 points, while teammate Jaren Ellerbe added 14 points.

The CVCC men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday at the Tarlton Complex for a home conference contest against Louisburg. Tip off between the Red Hawks and Hurricanes is set for 3 p.m.