ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College men's basketball team came up one win shy of its goal of reaching its first national tournament on Friday, falling 95-90 to Louisburg in the South Atlantic District semifinals held at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

The Red Hawks finish their 2019-20 season with a 22-9 overall record — the second most wins in school history.

"I am proud of the way this team worked each day to get better," said CVCC men's basketball head coach Bryan Garmroth. "In January, we looked like a very average team having a very average season.  However, they came to practice, weights and video every day and worked to turn the season into a very good one. Though we are very disappointed in falling one game short of our goal of playing for the region championship, their work ethic was evident to the very end."

Sophomore guard Jonathan McFall powered Catawba Valley with a career-high 39 points — shattering the record for most points in a single men's basketball game in school history.

McFall scored 24 of his 39 points in the first half, helping CVCC gain a 47-44 lead against the Hurricanes at halftime.

Despite its early lead, though, the Red Hawks saw the game slip away late in the second half, falling behind as many as 11 points to the Hurricanes, but Catawba Valley continued to fight all the way until the final buzzer.

"Down 11 with 55 seconds left, we cut it to three before the season ended," Garmroth said. "This was a tremendous group of people to get to coach.  Some of the most unselfish teammates I have ever seen. They are just a great group of young men."

Sophomore forward Jeremiah Keith added 12 points and seven rebounds for CVCC, while guard Donovan Evans also reached double figures in scoring for the Red Hawks with 10 points.

Friday's game was the final for five Red Hawk sophomore, including Jahleer Black, Byron Sanders, Sal-Bey Young, Keith and McFall.