Eagles top Tigers 79-51

MADISONVILLE, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (6-1, 1-1 South Atlantic Conference) men's basketball team defeated the Hiwassee Tigers (3-13) by a score of 79-51 at Randy Yuell Gymnasium on Thursday night.

Carson-Newman's Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) led three Eagles in double-digit scoring with 20 points, as he was 8-of-13 shooting from the field.

"He does what he always does," said Carson-Newman head coach Chuck Benson about Sanders. "He makes shots, was defending with some passion, and I thought he was really trying to be a leader tonight – he was more verbal than I've seen him. Sustained intensity, sustained effort which is still part of his growth and maturation as a player."

Sanders was joined in double-figure scoring by O'Dell Parker (15) and Cody Henegar (South Pittsburg, Tenn.) who scored 11 points off the bench for Carson-Newman.

The Eagles never trailed in the contest, opening the game on an 8-0 run thanks to baskets by Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) and Sanders. Davis would leave the game with injury in the first five minutes of the game and would not return.

"He'll bounce back quick," said Benson on Davis' injury. "Hopefully we can get him back if not by Saturday then by next Tuesday against Queens."

Carson-Newman shot 35 percent from the field in the first half, and carried a 39-26 lead over Hiwassee into the locker room at halftime. Sanders and Jared Johnson (Springfield, Mass.) each scored nine points in the first 20 minutes to lead the Eagles in scoring at the break.

The Eagles continued their strong shooting in the second half. Midway through the half, Carson-Newman went on a 13-1 run to extend the lead to twenty points with just over 12 minutes left in the game. For the final 12 minutes, the Eagles never let the lead get under 19 points, and outscored the Tigers 40-25 in the second half to reach the final score of Carson-Newman 79, Hiwassee 51.

Henegar and Parker both led the Eagles with six rebounds, and those two helped the Carson-Newman bench outscore the Hiwassee bench 30-16 in the contest.

The Eagles will next play on Saturday Dec. 15 against Milligan College at Holt Fieldhouse at 2 p.m.  Fans can listen to the contest on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network beginning at 1:45 p.m. with the Farm Bureau Countdown to Tipoff on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville).