VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Dima Bykov Interview
VIDEO: Tripp Davis Interview
VIDEO: EJ Bush Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Sparked by Chuck Benson's second technical foul of his 12-year tenure as Carson-Newman's (17-9, 14-8 South Atlantic Conference) head coach, C-N shot 65.6 percent from the field after halftime and cruised to a bruisingly physical 89-70 win over Limestone (9-15, 7-14 SAC) on Senior Day Saturday at Holt Fieldhouse.
Carson-Newman closed the contest outscoring the Saints 31-17 over the final 10 minutes of the game to turn a tight contest into the Eagles' 10th double-digit win of the season.
"We have each other's back. They are my guys and I'm their guy," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "I knew this was going to be a difficult game because Kyle Perry is establishing some toughness there defensively, and, doing a really good job at it. It was chippy today. I wanted to send a message to our players that we're all in this together, and if it's going to be a dogfight, I'm going to be right there with them."
The tech, aside with some highlight reel jams made for an atmosphere inside of Holt that crackled with electricity. Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) throttled through a put-back slam and EJ Bush (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) domed a Saint defender with a two-handed jam all within two possessions. The two dunks were part of a five-dunk second half – the most in a game for C-N this season.
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"Those dunks, you could feel the absolute electricity from both sides intensifying with the four technicals," Benson said. "It was one thing after another. Both teams played hard and physical, it created a really entertaining game where you got your monies worth."
Carson-Newman led by five, 64-59 with 9:33 to play following a Zach Laird triple. Carson-Newman responded with 10 straight points to take a double-digit lead it wouldn't relinquish. Bush started the burst with an and-one before Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C.) and Tyler Bowens (Greenville, S.C.) capped it with a three and a mid-range jumper, respectively.
"I thought we were getting stops and getting out in transition to give ourselves easier chances," Benson said. "I think I've got the best point guard in the league on this team in Luke Brenegan. He really is a coach on the floor. He made some suggestions to things that we ought to be doing offensively. I've got a lot of trust and faith in him and we went with what he suggested. It really was, in the half court, a huge difference maker. That's a credit to Luke. He simplified my complex nonsense and got it down to the nuts and bolts."
Carson-Newman scorched the nets after halftime, making 21-of-32 shots (65.6 percent) and 5-of-8 threes (62.5 percent). The 53 points C-N put up after halftime mark the second highest scoring half of basketball for the Eagles this year.
The Eagles impacted the record book with their three-point shooting. C-N canned 10-of-18 shots from long range for the game (55.6 percent) – tied for the 14th most efficient shooting night from deep in school history.
EJ Bush led C-N with a game-high 19. He was 7-of-13 from the field and knocked down his fifth three of the season. Additionally, he had four assists and three steals.
"We were getting him the ball in positions where he could exploit what they were trying to accomplish defensively," Benson said. "Beyond that, he made some plays off script."
Bush was a member of a quartet of double-digit scorers.
Thomas produced his first double-digit game in five contests with a 14-point night. He added in five boards, a pair of blocks and a pair of steals.
Both Brenegan brothers also finished in double figures. Luke Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) had 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) chipped in 11 with a career-high five rebounds.
Tripp Davis (Nashville, Tenn.) stuffed the stat sheet on his senior day with nine points, six boards and seven assists.
Form. Fire. Focus
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Senior day dub ✅@CN_Hoops x #TalonsUp pic.twitter.com/hZuOZ1y2Zm
Zach Laird led the Saints with 15 points off the bench. He had hit 10 threes all season, but went 5-of-11 from deep to pace the Saints. Isayah Owens and Richard Nunez each added in 14, while Ben Gahlert posted 11.
Carson-Newman outrebounded the Saints 38-26 – a second straight team that the Eagles have outrebounded by double-digits.
The Eagles scored 23 points off 16 Limestone turnovers, the second most in a game this season.
Carson-Newman finished the game shooting 53.2 percent from the field, its fifth game on the plus side of 50 percent this year.
C-N handed out 21 assists on 33 made baskets to finish on the plus side of 20 dimes for a ninth time.
Carson-Newman wraps up the home portion of the regular season Wednesday against rival Lincoln Memorial at 7:30 p.m. inside Holt Fieldhouse. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
