Carson-Newman ransacks Anderson thanks to otherworldly first half
February 3, 2021

Carson-Newman ransacks Anderson thanks to otherworldly first half

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (7-5, 6-5 South Atlantic Conference) sneaked into the underbelly of a wooden horse, hopped out behind the walls of Anderson's city and emerged to annihilate the Trojans (2-5, 2-5 SAC)  95-59 Wednesday night in Holt Fieldhouse. 

VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview

VIDEO: Highlights

VIDEO: Tyler Bowens Interview

VIDEO: Luke Brenegan Interview  

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (7-5, 6-5 South Atlantic Conference) sneaked into the underbelly of a wooden horse, hopped out behind the walls of Anderson's city and emerged to annihilate the Trojans (2-5, 2-5 SAC)  95-59 Wednesday night in Holt Fieldhouse. 

The Eagles gallivanted to a 31-point halftime lead, 54-23, and cruised to a 36-point win over Anderson to hand the Trojans their second-largest league loss since joining the South Atlantic Conference in 2010-11. 

"I came up to this interview to say that was the most dynamic first half of play in my tenure as head coach here," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "I don't even know where to begin. The defense was turned up. Our willingness to share the ball and trust one another was at a premium and our guys were having a good time. It was oozing from the players and the bench. Everyone was loving it."

Anderson scored the first points of the night, but then Carson-Newman rattled off a 21-5 run and never looked back.  The Eagles surged the lead to 22 with 7:36 to play in the first half following back-to-back triples by Luke Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.). 

Carson-Newman had four distinct runs of 6-0 or greater in the first half. Anderson didn't score on back-to-back possessions until the game was 24 minutes old.   

"You go into the locker room at the half, what do you say," Benson said. "I told the team and the staff, there's nowhere to go but down at this point.  We went out there without our eyes on the scoreboard with our standard in mind to try to finish it out."

The 31-point halftime lead marked the fourth time in Benson's tenure at Carson-Newman that the Eagles carried a lead that large into the halftime break. The last time the Eagles did it was Feb. 22, 2016 when C-N led 57-23 over Brevard after 20 minutes. 

There wasn't a stat category that Carson-Newman didn't win Wednesday night against the Trojans. The Eagles were more efficient from the field, three and free throw line, outrebounded the Trojans by 19, dealt a season-high 22 assists, had fewer turnovers and more blocks and steals. Furthermore, C-N had more points in the paint, second chance points, fast break points, points off turnovers and points from its bench.

"You want to win every game," Benson said. "What I'm more proud of is the way we are playing the game. You can win ugly and you can lose pretty.  I think that we are putting together more pretty performances and getting the outcomes we want. I love the direction we're going."

Carson-Newman fired away at 62.1 percent from the field in the first half on 18-of-29 shooting before cooling off in the second.  The Eagles shot 52.5 percent from the field for the game while canning a season-high 14 threes on 28 attempts.  The 14 triples are tied for the 15th most in a single game in school history. 

The Eagles were +19 on the boards for their second-largest rebounding edge of the season. 

Meanwhile, Carson-Newman held Anderson to 59 points, the Trojans second-lowest total of the year.  Carson-Newman has held four of its last six foes to under 60. 

Five Eagles scored in double figures for the first time all season. 

Brenegan led Carson-Newman with a game-high 19 on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and a 5-of-8 effort from long range. 

Eric Bush (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) added in 14 points and five rebounds.  With a 5-of-5 effort at the charity stripe, Bush has made his last 14 free throws in consecutive fashion. 

Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C.), Tyler Bowens (Greenville, S.C.) and Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) all added in 10. Dyer had 10 boards to boot to finish with his third career double-double. 

"This team has rapidly grown close," Bowens said. "Since this summer when we first got here, we've played together where we can.  We haven't been able to go anywhere because of the pandemic. All of us have had each other whether it's in the locker room or the caf.  It's brought us closer together."

Carson-Newman held Anderson's three leading scorers – Crosby James, Josh Livingston and Quin Nottingham to a combined 13 points.  The trio entered the contest averaging 33 a night.  Jalen Hillary was Anderson's only double-digit scorer. He had 10 on 3-of-9 shooting. 

Coupled with the win Monday night over Limestone 91-55, Carson-Newman has back-to-back SAC wins by more than 30 points for the first time in school history.  It marks the first time that the Eagles have won back-to-back league games by 30 or more since C-N was a member of the Volunteer State Athletic Conference and thumped Union and Tusculum by 38 and 43, respectively in back-to-back games in 1973.  It's the third time in school history the Eagles have pulled off the feat. 

"The guys have a greater level of trust and understanding of the synergy that can come from guys playing collectively," Benson said. "We are greater than the sum of our individual parts. I can keep on going because so many guys did so many good things.  I love the fact this team celebrates more in its collective success. This team is what you want as a coach. I can say things to them and they are so determined to go do that thing. I am enjoying coaching them so much."   

Carson-Newman returns to the floor Saturday against Catawba.  Tipoff with the Indians is set for 4 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts 15 minutes prior to game time with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on The Mountain 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

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