Chuck Benson Postgame Interview

Ish Sanders and Antoine Davis postgame interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (9-4, 6-3 South Atlantic Conference) started out 11-of-13 from the field and went on a 29-6 first half run to bury Brevard (3-10, 3-6 SAC) in a 101-73 win Wednesday night at Holt Fieldhouse. 

The Eagles finished the first half 10-of-15 from the field to shoot a paltry 75 percent en route to a 59-35 halftime lead it would not come close to relinquishing.  The Eagles led by at least 22 the final 21:01 of the game. 

Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) combined to do something they'd never done before in their time together at C-N. They each dished out at least five assists for the first time.  The Eagles are 18-2 all-time when one of those two players drops five dimes.

The duo also led the Eagles in scoring. Sanders had a game high 29 points, while Davis dropped 27.  They combined to hit 10-of-15 threes.  Davis also added nine boards in addition to his six assists and a career high five steals.  Sanders had a trio of rebounds, plus his five helpers and a quintet of takeaways. 

"We shared the ball and guys were willing to give the thing up," Carson-Newman head coach Chuck Benson said. "And then Antoine and Ish were just otherworldly. It all came together tonight."

The Eagles held reigning SAC player of the week Darius Moose to 16 points and four boards after a three-game stretch where he was averaging 30 and 10. 

While four Tornados finished in double figures, led by Dominique Pickett's 17, the Eagles forced 14 Brevard turnovers. Of those, 13 were live ball steals.  The Eagles converted them into 22 points, scoring on all but three of them. 

"We were so worried about their three-ball, we extended our zone further than we have any other game this season," Benson said. "And it helped that we started with our four seniors on the floor to begin the game; they provided a nice spark for us."

The 101 points for C-N marked the Eagles' fifth game this season with more than 90 and the first century mark game for the Eagles since a 101-68 win in December of 2012 over Milligan.  The Eagles hit their season highs for points, field goal percentage (60.0 percent), made threes (15) and three point field goal percentage (60.0 percent)

"We came back from last weekend at Queens and we took this preparation very seriously," Benson said. "We play comfortably in Holt and our guys just game out in a way that they wanted to redeem themselves."

Carson-Newman plays its second straight home game and one of three in a four-game stretch Saturday at 4 p.m. in a rematch with the Coker Cobras.  Coker won the first meeting in Hartsville, S.C. 68-59.  Pregame coverage starts at 3:45 p.m. on the Eagle Sports Network on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

-CN-