VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Ren Dyer Interview
VIDEO: John Zhao Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - In a clash between two of the top teams in the South Atlantic Conference, Carson-Newman (16-4, 9-3 South Atlantic Conference) used an early first-half run to create separate before stiff-arming Lincoln Memorial (15-6, 9-3 SAC) Wednesday night 91-82.
A crowd of 1,733 watched in Holt Fieldhouse as Carson-Newman knocked LMU out of first place in the league-standings and into a tie for second with the Eagles. Wingate remains in first place with a one-game lead on both teams.
The win is Carson-Newman's first over LMU in Holt Fieldhouse since 2019. It snaps both a three-game losing streak to the Railsplitters both in the overall series and at home. The loss snaps LMU's six-game winning streak overall, extending C-N's win streak to three straight.
"We had great preparation going into today, and had great follow through when it mattered," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "Execution and attention to detail were there on both sides of the ball. I'm so proud of our guys, and I'm so happy for them. This was a big-time game against a big-time opponent. The house was packed, and the student section was electric. Everybody who was here tonight wanted something. Tonight, our people got what they wanted. I'm so thrilled everyone in orange and blue walks out of here tonight happy."
The crowd of 1,733 is the largest to watch a game between two South Atlantic Conference schools this season. It goes down as the seventh-largest men's basketball crowd since the year 2000.
"I told our guys with nine seconds left, and I quote myself, 'If we win this game, after you shake their hands, go down there and show appreciation and love to our students and the people in attendance tonight,'" Benson said. "They were a big part of this win tonight. They kept it charged up in here tonight having a good time. They were our sixth man. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, because it helped us."
Carson-Newman, one of the best transition and offensive rebounding teams in the country, took a different path against Lincoln Memorial. The Eagles abandoned the offensive glass in favor of getting back on defense. While C-N, one of the league's best offensive rebounding teams, only had three offensive boards on the day, it only gave up seven points in transition to the Railsplitters.
"We felt like if we could get our defense set, we would give ourselves a chance," Benson said. "In this game, against this particular opponent, we were confident that we could win a battle, but it might cost you the war. We were willing to sacrifice the battle of the boards to get back in transition."
LMU shot 47.1 percent from the field. However, the Railsplitters were just 5-of-18 from beyond the arc. The five threes are the second-fewest LMU has hit in game this season. LMU outscored the Eagles in the paint 46-34.
LMU led early before Carson-Newman rolled off an 8-0 to take control of a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) capped the burst with back-to-back triples to give the Eagles a 24-17 lead with 9:11 to play in the first half. The three balls were part of a first-half barrage for Dyer.
"We came in with a game plan and had an idea what they would do with me," Dyer said. "I knew that if I could hit some of those shots, it could separate us and draw them out. That first half was big. My teammates trusted me with the shots. They really believed in me to get the job done."
Only ✋ turnovers
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) February 1, 2024
The second 30-point night for @JonathanZhao22 in his last three.
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Dyer had 18 at the break. While it was his 40th career double-digit scoring performance, he hadn't hit double figures in his red-shirt junior season. He was 4-of-5 from range in the first half.
"The tone that Ren helped set the first half from beyond the arc created a lot of uncertainty and hesitation for what they would prefer to do defensively," Benson said. "On top of that, his defense and presence for the entirety that he was on the floor on the defensive end was another huge element. Everybody did good things, but Ren jumped up and did what they didn't expect him to do, and that made a big difference."
Carson-Newman carried a 48-39 lead into the halftime locker room in spite of foul trouble to starting point guard Trey Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.). The junior sat the final nine minutes of the first half.
"I thought Jarius came in and gave us quality minutes while everybody else just did their jobs," Benson said. "I think our guys have enough confidence in the group collective that when we do face adversity, we have a good response to it."
Hubbard exited with Carson-Newman up six. The Eagles were able to expand upon the lead with him on the bench. Part of that came from LMU's own foul issues. The nation's leading rebounder Martez Brown and freshman phenom Wes Ennis both sat the final four minutes of the first half after picking up their second fouls.
"They have quality depth and personnel," Benson said. "(LMU head coach) Jeremiah (Samarrippas) does a sensational job. He has evolved into one of the premier coaches in the county. I thought he did a nice job managing their adversity through foul trouble."
Carson-Newman opened up a 16-point second-half lead after and 8-2 burst with 6:41 left in the game. John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) capped the surge with a left-wing three that put the Eagles ahead 75-59.
LMU was able to respond with a 6-0 run to get the game back down to 10 by the under-four media timeout while C-N went three minutes without scoring. However, the Railsplitters could draw no closer than seven in the waning moments.
Carson-Newman was 10-for-10 at the charity stripe in the final minute to ice the win.
C-N's free throw shooting helped carry the day. Carson-Newman was 31-of-36 at the line for the game. The 31 free throws are tied for the eight-most in a game in school history. The 36 attempts do not impact the record book.
Zhao was the chief benefactor of the Eagles' rim-attack action. He finished with 33, his second 30-point outing in his last three games. He was 16-of-19 at the line.
"Our game plan was to put pressure on the rim," Zhao said. "I went in thinking that no one could guard me and that I would attack. I did my best to draw fouls. They game plan worked out."
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— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) February 1, 2024
Second Half
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Zhao's 16 made free throws are tied for the third-most in a game in school history with Bennie Elliot (at Lenoir-Rhyne, Jan. 13, 1999) and Ray Rutledge (at Gardner-Webb, Jan. 2, 1994). His 19 attempts are tied for the second-most in a game.
Zhao was his usual efficient self. He went 7-of-13 from the field.
"Our guys knew that LMU can really defend," Benson said. "They are an elite defensive team. We knew we could not sit on our heels. We had to take the fight to them and make them defend and stop us. Our guys listened to that. John did such a nice job getting the ball in the paint. It shows his, and the same is true for the rest of our team, trustworthiness, poise and self-disciple. They brought their mental toughness today."
Dyer finished with 20 – a season-high for him and his sixth-career 20-point game. He added in a team-best seven rebounds and four assists.
Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) had 18 points, while Hubbard added in 13 in 25 minutes.
Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.), the conference's second-leading scorer and nation's leader in threes, changed his game. He only had four points on 2-of-5 shooting, and didn't attempt a three. The lack of a three-ball snaps a string of 25 straight games with a triple for Brenegan. However, he matched Dyer with a team-high four assists.
Back-to-back triples for @Rendyer2000
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) February 1, 2024
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⚒️Lincoln Memorial 17
First Half
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Enis led LMU with 31 points. He reset his career high with a 10-of-18 effort from the field and 3-of-8 mark from long range. All five starters finished in double figures for the Railsplitters. Chase Rankin came within spitting distance of a triple double with 14 points, seven boards and seven assists.
Me'Kell Buries entered the game fifth in the league in scoring, but was held to 13 pints on 6-of-19 shooting. He was 1-of-5 from deep. Jordan Walters added in 12, while Martez Brown became the first player Carson-Newman has faced this season to grab a double-double. The nation's leader in rebounding had 12 points and 12 boards. All 12 rebounds Brown grabbed were on the defensive glass.
Carson-Newman shot 43.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent (8-for-24) from three. This marks Carson-Newman's second win this season when shooting worse than 45 percent from the field (King is the other).
C-N outrebounded the Railsplitters 36-34 on the day. LMU only had three offensive rebounds. The Eagles owned a 6-0 advantage in second-chance points.
The Eagles played crisply. C-N turned it over a season-low five times, including just once in the second half. LMU turned it over 10 times. That led to a 12-5 edge for C-N in points of turnovers.
LMU's bench didn't score a point.
Carson-Newman hits the road Saturday to take on Catawba. The Indians are a half-game back of C-N and LMU for second in the standings. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. from Goodman Gym. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
