VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Luke Brenegan Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Tripp Davis Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (7-4, 5-3 South Atlantic Conference) turned in a fifth straight game holding an opponent under 40 percent shooting while knocking down 55.9 percent of its own shots in an 86-67 triumph over Mars Hill (4-7, 4-4 SAC) Wednesday night at Holt Fieldhouse.
"This was fun tonight," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "I was happy to see our defense at an electric level. Our guys had some fun. This was some turkey and mistletoe, just like the Nat King Cole song. Everything was good."
Carson-Newman turned in yet another high-level defensive performance by limiting a fifth-straight opponent below 40 percent shooting. No team has shot better than 40 percent on Carson-Newman in the month of December.
The Eagles' string of five-straight games not allowing a team to shoot better than 40 percent from the field matches the longest streak in the last 12 years. Carson-Newman also held five straight teams below 40 percent in February 2013.
Mars Hill shot 35 percent from the field (21-of-60) and was just 26.7 percent from three (8-for-30). The Lions went 1-for-12 from the field to start the second half while the Eagles turned a 40-32 halftime edge into a 20-point lead, 59-39 with 11:37 to play in the second half.
"The testament goes to the guys," Benson said. "Our defense is speaking for itself and just clicking. Hopefully we can continue this high level of performances heading into the break."
Carson-Newman outscored Mars Hill 15-4 to start the second half to put the game away. Trip Davis (Nashville, Tenn.) sparked the surge with a three to open the period. Davis and Caleb Bridgewater (Charlotte, N.C.) capped the run with back-to-back converted and-ones.
Mars Hill didn't make its first shot in the second half until the 14:36 mark. It wouldn't make its next until the 10:30 mark when Isaiah Jones slammed home a breakaway dunk.
C-N reset its season high with 28 assists. Carson-Newman dropped dimes on all but five of its made buckets. Luke Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) reset his career high with nine. He's handed out 17 assists in his last two games against the Lions.
"Nine assists," Benson said. "A season-high 28. He generated for others. He was unselfish, but that was true for our entire team. They shared the ball well."
✌️ - 0️⃣ in the greys
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 16, 2021
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‼️ six steals from @_Tripp10 - second most in school history
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Including Brenegan, four Eagles handed out four or more assists. Davis, Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) and Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) all dropped four.
Carson-Newman produced 10 steals on the night, the second game this year in double digits. Davis came within one of his own school record that he shares with Kyle Gribble with six takeaways on the day. Davis has 13 steals in his last two games against the Lions.
Davis paced Carson-Newman with 17 points on an efficient 7-of-12 night shooting. He also had five boards, four assists and the six swipes.
EJ Bush (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) was the only other Eagle in double-digits – finishing with 14. However, three other Eagles finished with nine – John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.), Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C.) and Dyer.
✌️ in a row for John Zhao
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 16, 2021
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Dyer also had three blocks to lead the team in the category for the first time this year. After going 0-for-8 from three in Saturday's loss at Newberry, Dyer connected on his final four shots from the field against the Lions.
"It started on the defensive end," Benson said. "He was defending at an elite level and crashing the offensive glass at an elite level. He took his focus off things like making and missing shots and added great value to our team."
Johnson paced Mars Hill with 16 points while the league's highest scoring freshman Kadyn Dawkins had 15, albeit on 3-of-11 shooting from the field and a 3-of-9 effort from long range. Michael Houge pulled in a double-double with 13 points and 14 boards. Trey Belin rounded out the quartet of Lions in double figures with 11.
Carson-Newman scored 48 points in the paint – a season high. The Eagles outscored the Lions 48-26 for the stat category, at +22 its Carson-Newman's biggest margin inside this season.
☎️ Long Distance Luke
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 16, 2021
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Carson-Newman hits the road for the final time in 2021 Saturday with a trip to Limestone. Tipoff from the Timken Center is set for 4 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network is set for 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
