VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
WINGATE, N.C. – Carson-Newman (1-1, 1-1 South Atlantic Conference) limited Wingate (0-2, 0-2 SAC) to 26.7 percent shooting after halftime and used a 20-4 run spanning the halftime break to lock up a 78-71 win Tuesday evening at Cuddy Arena.
While the Eagles defense clamped down on the Bulldogs, C-N's offense knocked down 12 threes – it's most in a game since making 12 at Mars Hill on Dec. 18, 2019. The Eagles went 12-of-26 from long range on the day to shoot 46.2 percent from deep.
"That is the greatest swing between two games that I've ever seen," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "Getting a second game, I thought guys felt a lot more comfortable and played really well with a game under our belts. I'm so pleased with our response after Saturday's game because this is such a place to come and win. This was a really good performance."
In Saturday's loss at Coker, the Eagles gave up 22 turnovers. Tuesday, the Eagles only had 13 giveaways and ended with a 23-10 edge in points off turnovers.
FREEZE IT.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) November 25, 2020
FRAME IT. @CN_Hoops clamps down on Wingate in the second half. @Bush2Eric and @_tripp10 combine for 31. @_b_smooth_ resets his career highs for rebounds (11), blocks (4) and assists (4). pic.twitter.com/B5LUy8StmU
The team's see-sawed back and forth throughout the first half. The Eagles built an early eight point lead before Wingate erased it to take an eight-point lead of their own with 13-4 and 12-2 runs. Eight straight points from Jarren Cottingham punctuated the latter Wingate surge to give the Bulldogs a 39-31 lead with 2:10 to play in the first half.
Carson-Newman countered immediately. A pair of jumpers by EJ Bush (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and a Luke Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) triple erased the bulk of that advantage before Wingate scored the final four points of the frame to take a 43-38 lead into the locker room.
The Eagles surged to start the second half, rattling off the first 13 points to build another eight-point lead.
Tripp Davis (Nashville, Tenn.) opened the scoring with a three nine seconds into the period to cut the deficit to two. Bush tied the game the next possession on a bunny. Back-to-back threes by Brenegan and Bush finished the run and gave the Eagles a 20-4 surge spanning the break.
�� FINAL ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) November 24, 2020
⭐️ @Bush2Eric - 1⃣6⃣ points, 6⃣ rebounds
1⃣5⃣ points from @_Tripp10
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Most 3-pointers since Dec. 18, 2019 pic.twitter.com/bkBWIGliy5
"This was such a team performance tonight," Benson said. "Guys got lost in the team. It wasn't about anybody and I'm elated they got to feel that and what a binding, unifying element getting lost in being a team can be.
Carson-Newman wouldn't trail the rest of the way, and the Bulldogs wouldn't get any closer than five the rest of the way.
Bush and Davis led C-N in scoring with 16 and 15, respectively. Bush also added in six boards. Davis went 4-for-6 from deep and was 5-for-10 from the field.
Kaleb Wallace (Atlanta, Ga.) and Luke Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) rounded out the Eagles double-digit scorers. Wallace had 10 points to go with four boards and three steals. Brenegan added in 12. He was 3-for-4 at the stripe in the final two minutes.
However, it was Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C.) who stuffed the stat sheet. Thomas had six points, but reset his career highs for rebounds (11), assists (four) and blocks (four).
"Bryant Thomas was truly a presence today both in protecting the rim and rebounding the ball," Benson said. "He's a willing passer and he shares. It's awesome for him and it's awesome for our team."
Jarren Cottingham and Francis Sio paced Wingate with 19 and 17, respectively. However, the pair went quiet after halftime. Cottingham had five after the break and Sio seven. Sio was 6-of-17 from the floor. Kendrick Tucker added in 10 points.
C-N limited Wingate to 35.9 percent shooting on the day, including a 2-of-7 effort from long range after halftime.
Wingate outrebounded the Eagles 46-41, but C-N had a 13-10 edge in second chance points.
"I told our guys that despite what the hard stats show," Benson said. "I thought we did a really good job on the offensive glass generating extra shots. I was really pleased with our rebounding in general, especially when it came down to winning time. We had to come up with some balls and we did."
Carson-Newman's Saturday contest with Anderson has been postponed due to a positive test on Anderson's team. The Eagles are scheduled to take on Newberry Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on The Mountain 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
