VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Mason Bates Interview
VIDEO: Antoine Davis Interview
Clayton State entered the contest allowing opponents to hit 30.6 percent of their field goals and 26 percent of their threes. Carson-Newman shot 28-for-52 (53.8 percent) from the field and 6-for-13 from three (46.2 percent) while limiting the Lakers to 31.5 percent shooting.
"I think if you look at our numbers in our first five games there's been that offensive consistency," head coach Chuck Benson said. "We were very deliberate in how and where we got the ball. The guys who got it capitalize and I was pleased with that, for sure."
The Eagles went on a 19-7 spurt in the first half to build a double-digit lead. A layup by Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed by a Mason Bates (Cookeville, Tenn.) straight on three with 3:04 left in the opening half gave C-N a 37-24 lead that the whittled it to nine by halftime. The Eagles took a 40-31 lead into the locker room.
The teams matched to a stale mate for much of the second half, with the Eagles lead hovering around 10. However, C-N made a push with 12 minutes left and used a 14-2 run to get the lead up to 20 with 9:21 to play. This time, Bates buried a three from the right wing and Andy Barnett (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) knocked down a corner three to put C-N up 68-48.
Josh Rogers (Bristol, United Kingdom) gave C-N its largest lead of the day, a 24-point edge, with a tip-in of a Zack Pangallo (Newport, Ky.) missed scoop shot.
Brooks led all scorers with 21 points. He was 9-of-13 from the field and led C-N with seven rebounds.
"Carson got back to his bread and butter," Benson said. "His game has evolved and he's added things. He's developed perimeter skills. But tonight he got back to doing what he does best, which is post power. That's the foundation of his game and he was very effective at doing that tonight."
Bates added 12 on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from deep. He also snatched six boards and dished out five assists.
Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Rogers rounded out the Eagles' double-digit scorers with 11 each.
Darrius Moore led Clayton State with 14 points, 10 of which came in the first half. Dantez Bennamon was CSU's only other double-digit scorer. He had 11. The Eagles limited the Lakers' leading scorer Saiquan Terry, who entered the game averaging 17, to five points.
Terry ranked sixth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (61.1 percent) and 23rd in threes made per game (3.46). Terry was just 1-for-3 from beyond the arc on the night.
Carson-Newman clamped down defensively on the Lakers as well. Clayton State entered the game shooting 44 percent from three with 11 made treys a game. The Lakers were just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc as a team.
"Our older guys knew that our defense hasn't been where it needed to be," Benson said. "Our guys were so determined tonight to put our defense on display. There was a calmness in the locker room and workman like approach because that defensive effort is what allows you to be good. The defense was trustworthy and reliable and that's what it needs to be."
The Lakers' 31.6 percent field goal mark and 66 points are their lowest offensive outputs of the season while the Eagles' 83 points and 53.8 percent shooting are both season highs for what Clayton State has allowed.
Carson-Newman is back home Saturday afternoon for a conference matchup with Newberry. Tipoff between the Eagles and Wolves is set for 4 p.m. from Holt Fieldhouse. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
