VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Jayme Peay Interview
VIDEO: David Gorianskii Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (4-1) celebrated the renewal of an old Volunteer State Athletic Conference matchup by doing what it has done more to Milligan (3-5) than any other team its played in program history – wallop the Buffs by 50.
Carson-Newman clobbered Milligan 111-60 Monday night in Holt Fieldhouse for the program's 12th all-time win by 50 or more points. Of those 12 wins, five have come against Milligan. The meeting was the 65th in the series between the old conference running mates, but just the third between the two teams since C-N left the VSAC for the SAC.
"Everything went well for us," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "You like those kinds of games where everyone gets to play and everyone plays well. The standards of our execution were still there regardless of what the score was."
Carson-Newman started fast and kept the foot pressed on the accelerator in its second wire-to-wire win of the season. The Eagles used an 18-2 run to grab a double-digit lead five minutes into the game.
Trey Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.) kick started the run with a backdoor cut and a layup, while Ben Beeker (Hendersonville, N.C.) and Jarius Satterfield (Clarksville, Tenn.) capped the spurt with a jam and an NBA-range three from the left wing, respectively. Carson-Newman led by no fewer than 20 for the final 27 minutes of the game. The Eagles used scoring run after scoring run to stretch out the edge. C-N had six distinct runs of 8-0 or greater in the contest, including a 19-0 burst spanning the halftime break and a 15-0 spurt that put the Eagles up 62 with 3:43 to go in the second half.
Milligan did utilize an 11-0 run to get within 51 – it was the first 8-0 run or greater that Carson-Newman had allowed this season.
The Eagles dominated just about every facet of the game. C-N made 55.4 percent of its shots and 50 percent of its threes, going 14-of-28 from beyond the arc. Carson-Newman outrebounded its fifth straight foe and its fourth by double-digits, owning a 47-33 edge on the boards.
In spite of shooting 55.4 percent from the field and limiting Milligan to 37.5 percent shooting, the Eagles had one more offensive board than the Buffs and a 12-6 edge in second chance points.
However, most telling was the turnover situation. For the first time this season, Carson-Newman won the turnover battle. The Eagles coughed it up just 10 times, while forcing 18 Milligan turnovers, 13 of which came off steals. That led to a 28-7 edge in fast break points and a 28-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
"We did not come into this game intending to turn them over," Benson said. "We exceeded our goals with what we set out to accomplish, but turning them over was not part of the plan."
John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) paced Carson-Newman with a career-high 31. He was 11-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-5 from deep. Zhao did all that work in just 23 minutes. He had 22 points at halftime and only played to the under-12 media timeout in the second half.
"He was efficient tonight," Benson said. "He is the kind of guy when he has the hot hand, he is a problem. The reality is he was only on the floor for 23 minutes. He's about the team and our success as opposed to his success. I'm happy for John, but I'm happier he's pleased for his teammates."
SWEET @goreanskii ����
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) November 28, 2023
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Zhao was joined in double figures by Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) and Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.), who both had 14. Brenegan was 5-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-7 from deep. He also had three boards and three assists.
Meanwhile, Browder went 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-6 from three while canning 3-of-4 foul shots. He also handed out a career-high six assists after turning the ball over 13 times in the first two games of the year.
"It has been killing him," Benson said. "And we have been giving him holy heck for it. I'm so happy he was able to share the ball well today. Ironically enough, he still didn't lead us in assists. But when we are sharing the ball, good things happen for us."
Carson-Newman dropped 29 dimes on its 41 made baskets. Trey Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.) came within an assist of his career high with seven.
"Styles make fights," Benson said. "Lander's defensive strategy was far different from how Milligan played us tonight. That meant Trey was going to do something different. I have high standards for Trey because I think he is going to be great. Not good. But great. We will continue to get everything ironed out for him."
1⃣8⃣ first half points for @JonathanZhao22 ����
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) November 28, 2023
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Of the 14 players who saw the floor for Carson-Newman, every single one of them scored and grabbed a rebound. Furthermore 11 of them had at least one assist.
Reigning AAC Player of the Week Follie Bogan had 11 for Milligan. The NAIA's fourth-leading scorer was held 14 points below his average. Lincoln Thomae had a team-high 14 for the Buffs.
Carson-Newman returns home Saturday at 1 p.m. against Clayton State. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 12:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloMbb.
