VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
SALISBURY, N.C. – Carson-Newman (4-6, 0-4 South Atlantic Conference) rallied from a pair of 17-point deficits but ultimately couldn't overcome Catawba (4-5, 3-2 SAC) Wednesday night at Goodman Gym.
The Eagles fell 69-65 to start 0-4 for the first time in South Atlantic Conference play since 2006.
"This goes back to the same kind of stuff for us," head coach Chuck Benson said. "When you can't control the ball, we're going to lose games. Our primary ball-handlers have seemed incompetent at times at controlling the ball.
"We've spent a great deal of time working to improve, and at this point in time we are not a very good basketball team. That's it, with all our depth issues, we are just not very good."
Carson-Newman was held to a season-low 23 points in the first half and 65 for the game, which matched the Eagles' low-water mark for points in a game, equaling their effort in a 72-65 loss to Lander in the second game of the season.
Turnovers again proved to be the Eagles' undoing. The Eagles coughed it up 17 times leading to 24 points off turnovers for the Indians. The Eagles have allowed every opponent, with the exception of Lincoln Memorial, to score 20 points off turnovers in C-N's six losses.
Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was the lone Eagle to finish with more than 10 points. The sophomore guard produced his eighth 20-point effort of the year and his third straight with 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting. However, Clark was just 1-for-8 from three.
Clark's lone double-digit effort marked the first time this year that Carson-Newman had fewer than three double-figures scorers in a game this season.
Jerrin Morrison led Catawba with 26 points. He was 11-for-18 from the field. Jameel Taylor was the only other Indian in double figures. He had 13.
The Eagles hopped out to 4-0 lead three minutes into the contest. However, following a Mason Bates (Cookeville, Tenn.) layup with 18:11 left in the first half, the Eagles would go more than 13 minutes without a field goal while Catawba rattled off a 22-2 run to build a 17-point lead.
Carson-Newman slowly but surely whittled it down to eight by halftime and had it down to two following a 6-0 run and a Clark layup with 13:11 left in the second, 40-38.
Then Jameel Taylor converted on a four-point play and Catawba banged out a 17-2 run that pushed the lead back to 17, 57-40 with 6:33 to play.
Carson-Newman would rally again, and get the Indians lead down to a possession in the final minute off a Christian Harris (Gold Canyon, Ariz.) corner three. Catawba hit 14-of-15 free throws including six in the final minute to ice the game.
"It's all about the bottom line," Benson said. "We've spent a ton of time on preparation. But, I am bumfuzzled at this point. There is nothing different about our approaches and processes. This group of guys is not in a poised or confident place. There has been a tsunami that has overwhelmed us with the adversity we've faced and who we've played and where we've played them. Thank God there's a lot more season to play. I just hope our kids don't let this adversity shut them down."
The Eagles return home for the final game before Christmas break with a 4 p.m. tipoff against Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday. Pregame 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 cneaagles.com/live.
