JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (3-0, 1-0 South Atlantic Conference) opened up SAC player with a 77-70 win over archrival Tusculum (1-4, 0-1 SAC) behind an 11-point, nine-assist, six-rebound effort from junior guard Jared Johnson (Springfield, Mass.).

Johnson's nine assists are a career high and the most for a Carson-Newman player since Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) had nine against Cincinnati Christian in 2011.  

"There were several guys that made impacts tonight, but Jared created so much for our team on the offensive side of the ball," C-N head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "He was right in it for 38 minutes tonight and by our estimation, he made a major difference tonight."

The game was a back and forth affair that featured eight ties and 14 lead changes. 

The 16^th-ranked Eagles closed the game on a 7-1 run largely at the free throw line to cement the win.  With 2:24 in regulation, Jalen Walker buried a triple to bring TC within three before a pair of Matt Shown free throws drew C-N's lead down to one. 

Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) was fouled on the ensuing possession and sank both free throws to work the lead back to a three-point edge.  After a Neal Spinks' free throw cut the lead back to two, Davis stuck in a put back of an Ish Sanders miss from the right side to extend the Eagle lead back to a two possession game C-N would not relinquish. 

"It was hard fought," Benson said. "Tusculum's record does not indicate how good they are.  I felt tonight it would take us playing very well for us to win.  We played just well enough to win.  They are the most improved team from what I've see and their style of play is very scary to me."

Aside from Johnson's banner day, Davis turned in a game high 21-point performance on eight-of-16 shooting.  Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed suit with a 15-point night after hitting six of his nine field goals including a pair of three pointers.  Sanders and Josh Rogers (Bristol, United Kingdom) rounded out C-N's double-figure scorers with 10 and 11 respectively. 

Rogers has matched or set a career high for points in every game this season. 

"We talked about poise and stressed that," Benson said. "We got very frustrated tonight at times.  The last minute or so of the game, our guys did a great job of focusing on what we needed to do."

Addison Flynn led Tusculum with 20 points.  The guard buried five-of-nine from deep to pace a Tusculum team that hit 10-of-19 three pointers. 

Carson-Newman hits the road for the first time this season when it travels to Coker Saturday.  Tipoff with the Cobras is set for 4 p.m. Pregame coverage is set for an approximate 3:45 start following the conclusion of the women's game on the Eagle Sports Network on 106.3 ESPN Radio the Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

-CN-