VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Trey Hubbard Interview
VIDEO: Jack Browder Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (5-1) jumped out of the halftime lockerroom with a 20-0 burst and never looked back in a 108-81 thrashing of Clayton State (2-4) Saturday afternoon in Holt Fieldhouse.
For a fourth time in six games to start the season, Carson-Newman crested the century mark. The Eagles outrebounded a sixth straight team to start the season and a fifth by double-digits. The four, 100-point games are the most in a season by C-N since the 2017-18 NCAA tournament year when the Eagles had eight.
"The response after halftime, I was impressed to say the least," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "We weren't content with the first half. Our guys jumped on it fast and quick on both ends of the court. It's hard when you get up like that, especially with so much time to go, to keep guys locked in. Congrats to our guys, this was a difficult challenge, and I thought they played very well."
Carson-Newman carried a 53-41 lead into the halftime lockerroom. In spite of Clayton State shooting 51.6 percent from the field in the first half, the Eagles led by double-digits thanks to a 6-of-15 effort from three and a 9-1 edge on the offensive glass.
However, C-N came out of the second half lockerroom and made its first 10 shots while Clayton State missed its first 10 shots to swell the lead to 30 by the under 16 media timeout. Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) sparked the surge with a bunny before John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) and Trey Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.) capped the run with a three and a baseline jumper. Carson-Newman led 73-41 with 15:08 to play in the game. The Lakers would get no closer than the final margin of 27 the rest of the way.
"Coach got into us at halftime," Hubbard said. "He told us to pick up our defense. We did in a big way. We fed off that energy and it helped carry us to the end. Effort and execution. We played a little too fast in the first half. Second half, we were able to control the game with our defense."
Carson-Newman shot 61.1 percent from the field after halftime. The Eagles finished the game shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from three. Carson-Newman made 13 threes, its third straight home game with at least 13 made triples.
The Eagles tallied a 44-34 edge on the glass. The fifth time in six games the Eagles have outrebounded their opposition by double-digits.
"Clayton State passes the look test with flying colors," Benson said. "They are big, athletic, they compete, they play hard and are well coached. Our guys were really intentional about rebounding on both ends of the court. The second half, I thought our overall defensive rebounding wasn't as good, but some of that suffered due to the large margin. Kudos to our guys for stepping up. They met the targets we set for them."
Make that a 20-0 run for the Eagles, capitalized by a triple for @JonathanZhao22 ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 2, 2023
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In spite of missing 14 fewer shots than the Lakers, the Eagles had five more offensive boards (14-9) and a 13-7 edge in second chance points.
The quartet of Zhao, Hubbard, Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) and Browder combined for 75.
Zhao led all scorers with an efficient 24. The nation's leader in three-point percentage went 9-for-12 from the field, 3-for-4 from deep and a perfect 3-for-3 at the charity stripe. Zhao's 24 marks his sixth career 20-point effort and his fourth this season. Zhao also added in five boards.
"He's efficient because he's confident," Benson said. "He's tough mentally. Regardless of what happened the last possession, all that matters to him is the current possession. He does a wonderful job of staying lost in the moment."
Hubbard tallied a 20-point night while dishing out a season-high seven assists. It's Hubbard's second career 20-point, five-assist night and his first as an Eagle (he had 20 points and eight dimes for Queens against Young Harris as a freshman). He was 7-of-14 from the field and 2-for-4 from long range.
Browder tallied his second career double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. He played turnover free for the first time this season and had three assists.
Brenegan rounded out the Eagles double-digit scorers with 15. He handed out a career-best six assists. Brenegan was 5-for-8 from the field and 3-for-5 from three. Brenegan has made multiple threes in every game this season.
Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, nine boards and four assists.
"I think Ren has redefined himself this season," Benson said. "It's allowing our team to have the successes its had to this point. He's truly redefined his game. His numbers are the best percentages he's had in his time here. He's creating opportunities for other people while rebounding, and he's also good for one absolute detonation a game."
Just your nightly @Rendyer2000 poster. @cn_hoops x #TalonsUp pic.twitter.com/5n3A3OoqsU
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 2, 2023
Carson-Newman handed out 26 assists on 40 made baskets. It marks the fourth time Carson-Newman has crested 20 assists this season and a third time in four games the Eagles have had at least 25.
"The defense – the style makes the fight – the defense allowed for us to get north south and create some overrotations," Benson said. "We clearly have a team that trusts one another at a very high level. They were willing to give the thing up to get clean looks."
Carson-Newman limited Clayton State to 42.4 percent shooting for the game and a 12-of-35 effort (34.3 percent) after halftime.
"Everyone on the team is sharing the ball well and showing confidence in one another," Browder said. "The trust is off the charts. It keeps us scoring the ball and making us successful."
Tyler Shirley led Clayton State with 23 points. He was 10-for-19 from the field and 2-for-7 from three. Christian Chambers added in 17. Keandre Bowles and Kennedy Brown followed with 14 and 11, respectively.
"Our offense is good, but it's a byproduct of our defense," Browder said. "We were able to get stops and capitalize frequently off those stops."
Pure. Domination.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 2, 2023
Fifth game with a +10 rebounding margin ✅@JonathanZhao22, @TreyHubbard_, Nick Brenegan and @JackBrowder3 combine for 7️⃣5️⃣@cn_hoops x #TalonsUp pic.twitter.com/NtYJoobAcs
Carson-Newman breaks for a week before opening SAC play against Limestone on Dec. 9. Tipoff with the Saints is set for 4 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available through FloSports at cneagles.com/FloMBB.
