VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Sawyer Williams Interview
VIDEO: Carson Brooks Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Josh Rogers Sportscenter Top 10 Dunk
The Cobras came into the game allowing 67.9 points per game, the best mark in the South Atlantic Conference. The 88 points the Eagles scored are the most the Cobras have given up this season.
"We had two good days of preparation and this was a big game for us," head coach Chuck Benson said. "We hadn't felt like we had played well against anyone this year who had been typified as a tough defensive opponent. Then it was Coker, and they've dominated us since we've been in the league. We had a quick start offensively and then our defense was outstanding. Tonight it was a devastating one-two punch."
Coker only scored one over a seven-minute stretch in the first half as the Eagles whipped up a 22-3 run to grab a 24-5 lead with 12:15 left in the first half. Back-to-back triples from Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Andy Barnett (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) capped the spurt for the Eagles.
The Eagles would lead by at least 10 points for 35:29. C-N did not have the lead all of 21 seconds in the win.
"I think we ran two play calls the entire game," Benson said. "Everything else was them playing basketball in the way that we try to educate them. They shared the ball well and made good decisions. Fun stuff happens when you do that."
Up by 25 at the break, Carson-Newman still had to withstand a Coker rally. The Cobras buried nine second half threes (they averaged six triples per game coming in) and got as close as 11, but ultimately, the Eagles' 25-point lead proved too much to overcome.
"It's hard when you go in at the half with a big lead because you're opponent might stop playing the scoreboard," Benson said. "They came out and just played without pressure the final half. Credit their guys for making shots and not going away."
The Eagles got 55 points combined from two plays. Clark chimed in with 28 points, going 9-for-16 from the floor, 2-for-5 from three and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. Clark also had four steals – a season high. Sawyer Williams (Owenton, Ky.) added 27 points and eight rebounds. He was 10-or-15 from the floor and 7-for-11 from the stripe.
"Sawyer played 40 minutes and does what he does." Benson said. "He's such a tough guy with boundless energy. He's just outstanding. Charles is Charles. He's a superb sophomore guard and both of them brought high point production and effectiveness at the free throw line."
Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.) added 11 points and 10 rebounds, securing his sixth double-double of the season and the 12th of his career.
The Eagles shot 64 percent from the field in the first half before cooling off and finishing at 52.6 percent for the game.
Coker was led by Aubrey Daniel and his 19 points. Stefan Osborne added 12. The duo combined to go 9-for-20 from three-point range with eight of those makes coming in the second half.
The Cobras entered the game as the third best offensive rebounding team in the country with 16 offensive boards a game. The Eagles held them to 11 offensive rebounds (four came on one play) and only nine second chance points.
The Eagles hit the road to the Abney Athletic Center and Anderson Wednesday. Tipoff between the Eagles and Trojans is set for 8 p.m. with coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starting at 7:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
