VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Nick Brenegan Interivew
VIDEO: Trey Hubbard Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) and Trey Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.) combined for 56 points as Carson-Newman (18-7, 13-6 South Atlantic Conference) outraced Newberry (10-13, 7-10 SAC) 111-104 Saturday afternoon in Holt Fieldhouse.
The Eagles have won five straight game and sweep the season series with the Wolves for the first time since 2018-19 while snapping Newberry's two-game winning streak. Carson-Newman led 42-37 at the break before the Eagles outscored the Wolves 69-67 in the second half to finish on the plus side of the century mark for the sixth time this season.
"I'm happy that we scored big points, but I'm also really unhappy we gave up 67 points in the second half," head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "This is one of those games and situations where we were up double digits late, and Newberry just put its head down and we struggled to contain them as they capitalized time and time again. We could not keep them in front late because we were dead set on them not hitting threes on us. Newberry made it difficult for us to get a good conference win. Golly, I wish it could have been a little prettier."
Carson-Newman had a triumvirate click on another level offensively. Brenegan and Hubbard both had 28 points, while John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) joined the scoring party with 20 points. The trio combined for 76 points. It marked the first time C-N had three players finish with 20 or more points since Nov. 16, 2024 against Lenoir-Rhyne.
The trio was largely responsible for C-N creating separation in the second half. Hubbard rolled in a fast break layup and Brenegan canned a three to spark an 8-0 run that put C-N up 16, 58-42 with 15:48 to go in the game Newberry slowly whittled things back down to an eight-point margin with 9:07 to go before back-to-back Brenegan threes kick-started a 9-0 run that put the Eagles up 17.
"There was never a point I thought this was going to be a cakewalk," Benson said. "We made our free throws well late. It was ridiculous, but we came out on the good side of it, so I have to be happy."
Newberry did get hot late, making 8-of-11 shots from the field in the final 2:50 to get the deficit back down to single digits and force C-N to hit free throws to ice the win. The Wolves made 4-of-6 threes in the final 2:30.
It's not as if C-N wasn't making shots down the stretch. The Eagles closed the game 10-of-13 from the field over the final 8:17 and went 10-of-12 at the free throw line in the final two minutes.
Brenegan's 28 points came as a result of a 10-of-14 day from the field. He was also 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. The six triples moved him past Charles Clark and Malik Abraham and into sole possession of second place on the Eagles' career threes list. Brenegan has 262 for his career.
"It's hard to find shots against Newberry, but we had enough inside out and rotation creation that we were able to get some open looks," Benson said. "Our guys capitalized. As far as it goes with Nick. Charles and Malik are two all-time greats. Nick has left his mark, and he certainly has done that against Newberry. Nick isn't into that stuff though. He wants us to prepare and win the next game. You love a guy like that because he's so reliable. I've never worried a day about that dude in the last five years because he's all about the right stuff."
The Eagles were 12-of-30 beyond the arc as a team.
Hubbard's 28 came on 11-of-19 shooting. He also handed out six assists. For the first time in his career, Hubbard has scored at least 20 points and handed out at least five assists in three straight games.
"I can't say enough about how Trey is playing," Benson said. "I wouldn't trade him for any point guard anywhere. He is ending his college career with a bang. He is an all-league performer and if anyone understands what he's doing for our team in this conference, it's going to be the coaches. He's hard to deal with and I'm glad he's on our team."
Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) turned in his third straight double-double for the first time in his career. He had 16 points and a season-high 14 boards.
"Jack is so rugged," Benson said. "He's cut from a certain fabric that he and his two brothers are all cut from. We don't win this game if he's not a force on the boards. We knew that was a part of their secret to success for winning on the road. If we weren't careful, they would take one from us today. Jack, I just know what he's going to do. I don't take it for granted, it's just gotten to the point where I can count on him doing that. I expect it again from Jack."
Braden Ilic (Morristown, Tenn.) rounded out C-N's double-digit scorers with 11 points. He crammed the stat sheet with eight boards and seven assists, to boot.
Newberry got career nights from Devarrio Sheppard and Drake Downs. Both players reset their career highs with 32 and 27, respectively. They were both 12-of-20 from the field. However Sheppard went 3-of-6 from deep and 5-of-6 at the stripe. Sheppard had 27 of his points after halftime.
Drew Robinson and James Lovorn had 18 and 16, respectively to give the Wolves a quartet of double-digit scorers.
Sheppard had a double-double with 11 boards.
Carson-Newman shot 53.4 percent from the field, including 59.5 percent after halftime. C-N handed out 20 assists on its 39 made baskets.
Newberry finished the game at 44.7 percent and 12-of-34 from deep.
Both teams took remarkable care of the ball. C-N turned it over five times and Newberry just four. C-N won the battle for points in the paint 54-50, while Newberry outscored C-N on the break 34-26.
Carson-Newman returns to the floor Wednesday with a rivalry game at Tusculum. Tipoff with the Pioneers is slated for 7:30 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
