JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The Carson-Newman men’s basketball team dropped an 87-79 decision to Mars Hill on Saturday night in South Atlantic Conference action at Holt Fieldhouse.

With the loss, the Eagles fall to 9-12 on the season and 4-7 in the conference. Mars Hill improves to 12-9 overall and 7-4 in the SAC.

Junior guard Erwin Staten (Huntsville, Ala.) tossed in a career-high 21 points to lead C-N in the defeat, while guard Jordan Dixon (Clinton, Tenn.) netted 15 points. Senior forwards Tray Okoth (Richmond, Va.) and Darron Maxtion (Huntsville, Ala.) added 11 points apiece in the loss.

Senior guards Danny Sanders (Shelby, N.C.) and Stoney Polite (Morgantown, N.C.) paced the Lions with 26 and 23 points, respectively, while Dion Malachi (Shelby, N.C.) tossed in 12 points.

The Eagles shot 46 percent (29-of-63) for the game, including a 5-of-10 effort from behind the arc. Mars Hill scored at a 44.6 percent (25-of-56) clip and was 7-of-17 from 3-point range. The Lions also knocked down 30-of-40 attempts from the free-throw line.

C-N held a one-point lead at the half, as Okoth drained a jumper with less than a minute left to give the Eagles a 41-40 advantage.

The teams went back and forth to open the second half before the Lions broke a 51-51 tie with a 13-2 run capped off by two Polite free throws with 7:21 remaining.

But the Eagles refused to go quietly as they fought back to pull to within 72-70 on a 3-point play by Staten with 1:55 left.

However, the Lions put the game away by going 14-of-14 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

C-N returns to action on Wednesday in a SAC matchup at Lenoir-Rhyne. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Shuford Gymnasium in Hickory, N.C.