Chuck Benson postgame interview

SALISBURY, N.C. – Carson-Newman (12-6, 9-5 South Atlantic Conference) eked out a 63-58 overtime win at Catawba (5-13, 5-9 SAC) Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym. 

The win is Carson-Newman's first on the road since a Jan. 4 contest at Wingate and snaps a three-game road losing streak. 

The Eagles struggled offensively, but didn't allow Catawba to hit a field goal in the overtime, the Indians were 0-for-6 from the field in bonus basketball. 

Carson-Newman connected on just 36.5 percent of its shots (19-of-52) and was just one-of-18 from beyond the arc.  The Eagles' one made three is the lowest tally from beyond the arc of the Chuck Benson era.   

"We're very happy to get any conference road victory," Benson said. "But that was one of the ugliest offensive performances by two teams that I have ever been a part of.  I guess our defense gave it to us, because if you would have told me that we'd get it done with those offensive numbers, I'd say 'no way.'"

The Eagles limited Catawba to 32 percent shooting.  The Indians made five of their 24 threes. 

"We ended up trapping some on the baseline and thought if we took away the inside, it would benefit us," Benson said. "That worked out because of how they shot the three. I'll take those numbers defensively.  But our numbers offensively are just laughable. Our offensive numbers were just pathetic.  It was just bad basketball. I'd love to give refunds to everyone here because it was just that much of a debacle."

Benson's Bunch jumped out to a 10-point lead with 11:18 remaining in the second half on a 14-1 run.  However, Catawba would close regulation on a 7-1 spurt to tie the game at 55 and force the extra period.  The Indians' Tyrece Little connected on a layup with 50 seconds left in regulation, then Jalen Byrd dropped in an and-one from the right side, converting on the free throw, to knot the game with 10 seconds left. 

Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) clanked a last-second, potential game-tying three off the left side of the rim. 

However, in the overtime, it was Sanders who feathered in a 15-footer from the left elbow with 44 seconds left to give the Eagles a three-point edge.  The Indians' Jalen Byrd missed a wide open three from the right wing with a chance to tie, then Jared Johnson (Springfield, Mass.) buried a pair of freebies to cement the final margin at 63-58. 

Johnson led the Eagles with 15 points and a career high eight rebounds.  He also produced a career high eight turnovers.  Johnson was four-for-four at the charity stripe in overtime.

Sanders added 13 points while Caron Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.) touted 12. 

"Carson had a great offensive day, if anyone did, because he went right at their shot blocker," Benson said. "Tyrece Little being able to contest shots at the rim really made it difficult for us because we just weren't knocking down jumpers."

Little produced his fourth career double double against the Eagles with 16 points and 14 boards.  Kijuan Arrington added 16 for the Indians as well.  Byrd and Nick Houston each finished with 10. 

The Eagles begin a stretch of five of six games at home beginning Wednesday night against eighth-ranked Lincoln Memorial.  Tipoff with the league-leading Railsplitters is set for 8 p.m.; pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:45 with the Countdown to Tipoff on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at  cneagles.com/live. 

-CN-