VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
SALISBURY, N.C. – Catawba (7-4, 5-3 South Atlantic Conference) became the first team to shoot better than 60 percent from the field against Carson-Newman (9-4, 5-3 SAC) in more than a decade, utilizing scintillating second-half shot-making to hand C-N a 91-63 loss Saturday in Goodman Arena.
The 28-point margin is Catawba's biggest win in the series since 2005 and Carson-Newman's largest margin of defeat overall since falling at Queens, 74-50 on Feb. 5, 2022.
"We did a good job on the offensive boards, but we did not take care of the basketball. That played a role, but their shot-making the second half was unlike anything they have done this year, but they'll do that to us," head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "Besides Robinson, Tinsley makes three-of-four threes, he's more of a mid-range kind of guy. Our defense the second half was non-existent on every level. I don't remember a rear-kicking like this in a long time. I'm extremely disappointed in how we played, especially defensively."
Catawba became the first team to shoot better than 60 percent from the field against C-N since Feb. 9, 2011. The Indians made 62.7 percent of their shots (37-of-59) and went a season-best 9-of-17 from three. Catawba connected on 6-of-7 threes after halftime.
The Indians built a 42-29 halftime lead on the back of a 20-5 first half run that was aided by eight C-N turnovers in nine minutes.
However, C-N never had a prayer of making in roads into the deficit thanks to Catawba's bonkers second half. The Indians drilled 73.1 percent of their second-half shots. Catawba joined Johnson C. Smith (Jan. 21, 2019) as the only teams to shoot better than 70 percent from the field in a half against a Chuck Benson-coached Carson-Newman team.
The Indians sweep the season series and run their win streak over C-N to four straight games.
"Joshuwa Butts is the only positive today," Benson said. "I liked his minutes. I can't say anything positive about today's performance. Credit to Catawba for making shots. We have to figure out what we can do better defensively. We have been a good offensive team through 13 games, but not today. We have to figure things out if were are going to be competitive."
C-N was held to a season-low 63 points. Carson-Newman finished the game with 17 turnovers. Catawba had a 20-7 edge in points off turnovers.
C-N shot 42.3 percent from the field and went a season-low 7-of-29 (24.1 percent) from deep.
For the first time this season, C-N only had two players in double digits. Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) paced C-N with 18 points. He is one point away from becoming C-N's 43rd all-time 1,000-point scorer.
John Zhao (Sevierville) was the only other Eagle in double digits. He had 12.
Kris Robinson led Catawba with a game-high 24 points. He was 9-of-13 from the field and 6-of-8 from deep. Robinson was limited to four shots and no three-point attempts in the first meeting.
O'mazeon Tinsley made a career-best 3-of-4 threes to finish with 14 points. Ibra Athie also had 13. Nick Walker rounded out Catawba's quartet of double-digit scorers with 13.
Catawba outrebounded C-N 33-24.
C-N wraps up the road portion of its 2024 schedule with a trip to Limestone Wednesday at 4 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Spors Network begins at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
