Chuck Benson postgame interview

Ish Sanders postgame interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (13-6, 10-5 South Atlantic Conference) withstood a late 8-0 Lincoln Memorial (17-2, 13-2 SAC) run and held on to knock off seventh-ranked LMU before a packed arena Wednesday night at Holt Fieldhouse. 

The Eagles have now notched back-to-back wins against teams ranked in the top 10. C-N beat LMU when it was ranked fifth in the nation 64-61 on the road in 2011 – its last game against a team in the top 10 prior to Wednesday night.  The win also snaps a 13-game win streak for the Railsplitters and a 12-game road winning streak (the second longest in the nation.)  

"That was a quality, quality win for our players and our institution," Benson said. "The student and community support was the best I've seen since I've been here.  We don't win this game if not for our fan base and their support. They were definitely a part of the victory. When you get people in here, it gets loud and it made a difference in this game."

Carson-Newman jumped out to a 13-point edge with 9:44 left in the second off an Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) knifing drive from the baseline left side and ensuing lay-in.  The Eagles were able to take that double digit lead in part due to a 15-6 scoring spurt spanning the half-time break that was aided by a seven-minute field goal drought by the Railsplitters. 

The Eagles maintained a double-digit lead until around the three-minute mark in the second half.  A three from LMU's Chance Jones with 1:58 left drew the Railsplitters within six, 71-65.  After a missed layup for the Eagles, Luquan Choice was fouled by Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) with 93 seconds left. 

Choice connected on the first free throw, but not the second.  Tim Pierce collected the offensive carom and fed to the shooter Choice for an open three from the right wing that dropped to bring LMU within two.

Carson-Newman was able to hit enough free throws down the stretch (7-of-10 in the final minute alone) to keep the Railsplitters at bay.  A Curtis Webb trey with three seconds left drew LMU within one.  However, Jared Johnson (Springfield, Mass.) canned his first free throw after getting fouled, then intentionally missed the second to force a three-quarters court heave from Choice that was short and wide to the right. 

As the final horn sounded, Carson-Newman's student section rushed the court.

The Eagles forced LMU to attempt a season high 30 threes; the Railsplitters hit 10 of them. The Railsplitters came into the game sinking an average of 52 percent of their shots.  The Eagles held them to 26-of-66 from the field, 39.4 percent. It marks just the second time this year LMU has been held under 40 percent shooting from the field.   

"It was a goal to get them to shoot the three," Benson said. "That's not what they want to do; they want to get the thing inside in a traditional style. That style's outstanding, Josh Schertz and his staff are incredible with that.  But we tightened it up so much inside; it limited their ability to get the thing into the paint."

Sanders led the Eagles with a game-high 25 points, Davis followed with 20 points, including a career high 10 made free throws. Johnson rounded out C-N's three-headed monster with 17 points. 

The Eagles limited the reigning SAC player of the week Vinny Bailey to five points below his season average with a 16-point effort.  Bailey played much of the second half with four fouls and sat out the majority of the first after picking up a pair. 

"We were fortunate that Bailey got into some foul trouble," Benson said. "He's outstanding, but we were fortunate to get the edge there tonight.  We had some guys step up like Jared Johnson, Sawyer Williams and Carson Brooks who added some balance on our end."

Chance Jones led LMU with 17 points. Choice added 15. 

The Eagles are back at home Saturday against Lenoir-Rhyne. Tipoff with the Bears is slated for 4 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network gets underway at 3:45 p.m. on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.