VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Nick Brenegan Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (11-8, 5-4 South Atlantic Conference) took a defensive battle from two of the top defensive teams in the South Atlantic Conference with a 60-53 win over Lenoir-Rhyne (8-9, 3-6 SAC) Saturday evening inside Holt Fieldhouse.
Carson-Newman snapped a six-game losing streak in the process and won a fifth straight game over Lenoir-Rhyne. The five-game win streak is the longest win streak over the Bears in the 73-game history of the series.
"Today was one of those fine examples where you can struggle a lot on the offensive side of the ball," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "But, if you can defend your way out of that, you can come up with the outcome you'd prefer. We met what are typically our defensive goals, and the credit goes to our players. Our guys stayed committed and they stayed connected. You can have all the strategies you want, but its got to start with everybody loving and playing with each other. That was the secret sauce for us tonight."
The contest was hideous and covered in warts at times. Carson-Newman led 27-20 at the break after limiting the Bears to 28.6 percent first half shooting, but was unable to further extend the league because it turned it over 11 times in the first half.
The Eagles finished the game with 21 turnovers. It marks the first time Carson-Newman has had 20 turnovers or more in a win since giving it away 20 times on Nov. 9, 2018 in a 67-50 win at Southern Wesleyan. The Eagles had lost five straight games when it had 20 giveaways or more.
While the Eagles did turn it over 21 times, the majority were dead ball turnovers. Both teams were whistled for six travelling violations. Lenoir-Rhyne only had six steals.
C-N limited the Bears to 32.1 percent shooting on the day, a season-low for the Bears. The Eagles, after failing to outrebound a foe for three straight games, also dominated the glass to the tune of a 37-26 rebounding advantage.
"No matter what the outcome was today," Benson said. "I saw a lot of positive things tonight. As a parent, it breaks your heart when you see those you love suffering and hurting, even if its earned. I hated to see it for our guys because I care so much about them. For our own growth, we need to learn how to embrace these challenges so we can learn from it and grow."
Carson-Newman broke open a tight game with an 11-2 run spanning the halftime break. Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C) keyed the burst with a driving layup, a dime to Tyler Bowens for a dunk and a corner three. He finished with 13 points in the first half and a team-high 15 for the game.
"His offensive burst the first half was needed and exciting and fun," Benson said. "It injected confidence in everyone. He and his brother were critical in solidifying our defense. He was a massive part of today. These guys are on the team I'm fortunate enough to coach. I've hurt watching him hurt as he tried to get back from injury. He's such a good example for this program. When it was time to call on him, there wasn't a moment's hesitation."
Brenegan, held out the early portions of the season with a shoulder injury, had scored 20 points all year coming into the game. He produced a season-high 15 with his seventh career double-digit scoring effort. He was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from three.
"I've stayed ready and trusted in the process," Brenegan said. "I put in a ton of hours over the summer and waited on my number was called. I knew I didn't do anything wrong because circumstances intervened and I had to be a good teammate for a while. Tonight I was called up, and I performed."
Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C. ) and Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) rounded out C-N's double-digit scorers. Thomas had 13 on 6-of-9 shooting and three blocks. Dyer had 10, five boards and three assists.
Lenoir-Rhyne's Jalen Johnson led all scorers with 22 points. He scored 10 in the final two minutes of the game on some deep threes to keep the Bears close.
Carson-Newman limited first team All-SAC performer TJ Nesmith to nine pints in 20 foul-plagued minutes and the SAC's top three-point shooter LJ McCory to nine points on 3-of-11 shooting, including a 2-of-9 mark from deep.
"He's (McCoy) a hard guy to deal with," Benson said. "He's big, he's got a quick release and he has all the confidence in the world. Our guys made it difficult for him. He was extra aggressive after halftime. I thought our guard play defensive that second half from the Brenegan brothers and from Bryant Thomas had some really good help-the-helper coverage situations to help us provide for some buffer."
Carson-Newman hits the road Wednesday for its final game in January. The Eagles tip at UVA
