VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
NEWBERRY, S.C. – Carson-Newman (6-4, 4-3 South Atlantic Conference) hoisted up open look after open look, but failed to convert far more often than not in the second half as Newberry (4-5, 4-3 SAC) erased a 15-point second half deficit to take a 55-51 win from C-N Saturday at Eleazer Arena.
The Eagles knocked down just 8-of-26 shots after halftime and 2-of-15 threes. The Eagles finished 4-of-27 from long range All the while, Newberry used a 25-5 run spanning 12 minutes in the second half to erase the double-digit deficit for their fourth straight win over Carson-Newman and their fourth consecutive win this season.
"Our defense was stellar, stellar, stellar, stellar," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "We got great shots and got shots for guys who can make them. They just diddn't make them. That is this game. We defended well. We didn't turn the ball over. We rebounded the ball well. We couldn't make shots. That is the nature of this game. That's the unfortunate part of this."
The fourth straight win for Newberry in the series marks the first time the Wolves have ever won four straight games over Carson-Newman. It also brings to a halt Carson-Newman's five-game win streak, which had been the longest active streak in the SAC.
The loss obfuscates a solid defensive day for C-N. Carson-Newman held its fourth straight opponent under 40 percent shooting. Newbery was 21-of-53 from the field (39.8 percent) and made just 4-of-19 threes (21.1 percent).
"Theoretically defenses are trying to limit open shots," Benson said. "They didn't limit our open shots. We missed our open shots. The frustration is just that, what do you do when you can't make shots?"
Quandaveon McCollum led all scorers with a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double. He was 9-of-16 from the field. Marcus Ford added in 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. He was 3-of-9 from three.
Tripp Davis (Nashville, Tenn.) was the lone Eagle in double-figures. He had 13.
Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C.) moved into second on C-N's all-time career blocks chart with a second-straight four-block performance. He now has 91 career rejections – tied with Brandon Evans for second all-time.
Thomas sniffed a second straight double-double with eight points and 11 boards.
Carson-Newman dished out a season-low six assists on 21 made baskets. However, the Eagles also turned it over a season-low eight times.
The 106 combined points in the game are the lowest for a Carson-Newman game since Chuck Benson's second game as head coach in 2010 when the Eagles and Georgia College combined for 90 in a 60-30 win for the Bobcats.
The loss is just the second for Carson-Newman in the last decade when limiting its opponent to 60 points or less. Catawba beat Carson-Newman 60-58 in overtime on Feb. 27, 2013 – the last team to win such a defensive rock right over C-N.
Carson-Newman scored 19 points after halftime, its worst scoring half since being held to 19 at Coker to start last season.
The Eagles return home to Holt Fieldhouse Wednesday against Mars Hill. Tipoff with the Lions is set for 7:30 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
