VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Caleb Bridgewater Interview
VIDEO: Ben Beeker Interview
VIDEO: Jarius Satterfield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (21-7, 14-6 South Atlantic Conference) built a 25-point halftime lead, but had to withstand a withering three-point shooting effort from Mars Hill (3-24, 2-18 SAC) to collect a 109-99 win over the Lions on senior day in Holt Fieldhouse.
The Lions drilled 18-of-29 threes, the second most made by an Eagle foe in Holt in Chuck Benson's 14-year tenure as head coach. However, C-N was tall to the task with an efficient and marksman effort of its own. C-N shot 63.5 percent from the field and buried 15-of-30 threes.
"We had a really good offensive first half," head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "Up 25 at the break, it really is my least favorite lead. I almost can't stand it. You know this is Mars Hill's last game, they got free and easy. It's not that we had to beg our guys to perform, but kudos to Mars Hill, they made it interesting by shooting the absolute cover off the ball. They capitalized on some of our scout-based stuff to make it closer. At the end of the day, we hung on."
The contest marked the ninth time the Eagles drilled at least 14 threes in a game. C-N handed out 32 assists on 40 made baskets for its seventh game this season with at least 30 dimes.
C-N crested 100 times for the 12th time this season, matching the 1970-71 team for the most triple-digit performances in a single season in school history.
The Eagles dominated most hustle stats. C-N outscored the Lions 23-5 on the break, 15-7 in second chance points and 48-18 in the paint.
"We were fast in transition and shared the ball really well led by Trey Hubbard," Benson said. "Those guys draw a lot of heat, and we made a lot of good catch shots. That goes back to running and sharing. Our guys have gotten good at that."
Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.) dished out a career-best 13 assists. The 13 dimes are tied with Braun Dabbs (Maryville, Feb. 7, 2005) for the fourth-most in a game in school history.
"A lot of Trey's work came in transition," Benson said. "But even in the halfcourt, you could tell he was trying to attack the paint to create rotation. Whether it was in transition or in the half court, he was doing a good job. I'm just thankful it wasn't just him sharing the ball well at a high level."
Hubbard's work sharing the ball created space for John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) and Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) to go off. The pair combined for 57 points. Zhao logged his fifth 30-point game of the season.
He was his normally efficient self, going 12-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from three. Zhao flirted with a triple double as well, grabbing seven boards and handing out six assists.
Browder went for 27 points and a career-high matching 12 rebounds to collect his 10th double-double of the season. He too was efficient, draining 9-of-14 shots from the field and 5-of-9 threes.
Nick Brenegan chipped in a quiet 11, with a 3-of-7 effort from range, while Ben Beeker (Hendersonville, N.C.) celebrated his senior night with a perfect day from the field. He was 7-for-7 and scored 16 points.
The 10-point win tied a bow on the Holt Fieldhouse careers of Beeker, Caleb Bridgewater (Charlotte, N.C.) and Jarius Satterfield (Clarksville, Tenn.)
"It's crazy to think, especially in Bridge's case, they've been with the program as long as they have," Benson said. "What stands out about those three guys is how good of people they are. They are great representatives for this program and this institution. They'll all leave here with a master's. They've been good teammates. They've been guys who I have had a great deal of confidence and trust in knowing what they are going to do as leaders and examples. It's tough when you lose quality people. We've had something good with them. It's definitely a bittersweet moment because we are losing something, but I'm excited for their futures."
Mars Hill became the second straight team to finish with six double-digit scorers in Holt. Kendall Davis led the Lions with 19, while Kadyn Dawkins added in 18, as did Kory Davis.
Derrick Molden had 13, largely from long range. He had made six threes through his college basketball career before sniping in three against the Eagles. Xavier Meekins went 4-for-4 from deep to finish with 12. Caleb Maulden rounded out the Lions' double-digit scorers with 11.
C-N enjoyed a 41-26 edge on the glass. MHU only had three turnovers to eight for C-N. The Lions didn't have a giveaway in the second half.
The Eagles pounded on MHU early, opening up a 28-7 lead in the first eight minutes of the game while the Lions started 2-of-16 from the field. Browder headlined the early run, drilling four threes, including his last one to cap a 17-2 mini-burst with 12:09 to play in the opening half.
C-N led 60-35 at the break for the Lions caught fire in the second half. A 10-0 Lion run carved the deficit down to 10 with 12:27 to play after threes from Davis and Rodgers. MHU would get it down to eight with 8:47 to go off another David triple, but that would be as close as the Lions would get down the stretch.
C-N draws Tusculum in the opening round of the South Atlantic Conference tournament Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network gets underway at 4:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
