VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: John Zhao Interview
VIDEO: Jack Browder Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman (9-3, 5-2 South Atlantic Conference) drilled a season-high 15 threes, scorching the nets to the tune of 57.6 percent shooting en route to a 98-89 win over Limestone (3-6, 0-5 SAC) Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak to the Saints while handing Limestone a fifth-consecutive league loss.
"The tape never lies," head coach Chuck Benson said. "But my initial thought is we passed the look test. I thought we limited our glaring mistakes on the defensive end. A lot of the game specific things we talked about in the last three days, our guys prepared well and executed those things. I walk out of here happy with what I saw on the defensive side of the ball. Limestone has some nice pieces offensively, and they made some tough shots tonight. Our defensive impact was real tonight."
Limestone entered the game with three players – Sirr Hughes, Isayah Owens and Greg McKay – averaging 17 points per game. Owens and McKay were both making at least 50 percent of their shots.
Hughes got his, resetting his career high with a 29-point night. However, it took tons of tough, contest drives for him to go 10-for-18 from the field. While Hughes thrived, life was more challenging for Owens and McKay. Owens had seven on 2-of-10 shooting and McKay 11 on a 2-of-11 night.
Trevon Peyton also reset his career high for Limestone with 28 points. He hit 4-of-7 threes and 10-of-13 shots.
While Peyton and Hughes combined for 57, Carson-Newman called upon its own high-scoring duo.
Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) became the first player this century to score 30 points in three straight games for C-N. He went for an even 30 against the Saints and a stupendous 9-of-10 shooting effort from the field and 4-of-5 mark from three. Browder added in six boards and two blocks. He produced his 23rd, 20-point effort.
Meanwhile, John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) made his first 10 shots without missing before proving he is in fact mortal with a missed three on his final shot attempt. He went for 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting. He was 5-of-6 from deep.
"I've had a few games were I didn't shoot it that well," Zhao said. "What it boils down to is continuing to trust in the work and trusting in God. I don't doubt his blessings upon me. I came into this game confident and aggressive while trusting in the gameplan in what we had to do. Shots fell today and I thank God for that."
Do the math and Browder and Zhao combined for 57 points on 19-of-21 shooting and a 9-of-11 mark from deep.
3️⃣ straight 3️⃣0️⃣ point nights for @JackBrowder3 (not even @birdclark1 ever pulled that off).
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 8, 2024
A combined 5️⃣7️⃣ from Jack and @JonathanZhao22 on 1️⃣9️⃣-of-2️⃣1️⃣ shooting @cn_hoops x #TalonsUp x #GMTE pic.twitter.com/54g2nXV0OS
"We're not efficient without the paint being wide open from guys like Nick Brenegan," Browder said. "He was 1-of-9, but the reason John and I are getting the looks we are is because of his reputation. It was John and me tonight, but it could be Nick, Braden, Trey or Tate tomorrow. Any five on the floor can explode. We trust one another in what we do at an elite level."
C-N shared the ball at a high level with 22 assists on 34 made baskets. Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) matched a career high with eight assists, while Braden Ilic (Morristown, Tenn.) was one off his career high with an octet of assists as well.
"It's incredible the week that Jack has had," Benson said. "John had been nursing an ankle that he tweaked again tonight, but he was a lot healthier tonight than he was at Wise. Jack and John are talking postgame for a lot of reasons, but there are so many guys who did good things. Braden Ilic hands out eight assists with two steals and a block. Trey had a really quiet 18. A lot of guys did really good things."
Hubbard and Ilic rounded out the Eagles double-digit scorers with 18 and 12, respectively.
From another zip code! �� @JackBrowder3
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 7, 2024
��@cnhoops 27
⚜️ Limestone 16
1st | 9:40
��https://t.co/JJNlFD6fI0 @FloCollegeHoops
��105.5 FM "The Mix"
��https://t.co/gipZ7woHxo
��https://t.co/hiIvfnQa8x pic.twitter.com/V8WhmSNxxW
Carson-Newman finished the day shooting 57.6 percent from the field – a 10th game out of 12 above 50 percent and a fourth above 55 percent. C-N canned 15-of-34 threes – 44.1 percent from deep.
"Sharing the ball in this program is huge," Benson said. "As incredible as Jack and John were in this game scoring the ball, I just ate the greatest rice Krispie treat I've ever eaten. That's a great example that aligns with our willingness to share the ball. I love that our team wants to do that. They want to give it up and trust each other on the offensive end. They understand the value of the ball staying live, active and moving."
Limestone made 46.9 percent of its shots and went 9-of-24 from deep. The Saints stayed within striking range in the second half thanks to free throw shooting. Limestone made 20-of-22 free throws.
Carson-Newman led wire-to-wire for the second time this season. C-N started the game on a 9-3 run with four different players making the first four buckets of the game. A 10-3 C-N run gave the Eagles a 21-11 lead after five straight points from Zhao with 12:11 to go in the first half.
The lead would hover around that margin for the majority of the game. C-N led 48-39 at the break.
When the Eagles Came Marching In! ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 7, 2024
��@cnhoops 98
⚜️ Limestone 89
Final pic.twitter.com/BB2gwEDj6r
Limestone got as close as five on two occasions after halftime, but C-N answered with a pair of 5-0 bursts to stretch the lead back to double-digits immediately.
Carson-Newman held a 32-30 edge on the boards and a 17-7 margin in fast break points.
C-N turned it over 11 times to Limestone's seven. Seven of the Eagles turnovers came in the first seven minutes of the second half.
"I go back to our guys, they get all the credit for the preparation and their performance," Benson said. "If they don't go out there and do the job, the job don't get done. But we have to build on it. We'll have to defend in a big-time way next Saturday."
C-N has a week off for finals before returning to the floor Saturday at Catawba. Tipoff with the Catawba Indians is set for 4 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
