Senior class picks up first home win over Wingate thanks to clutch rally
February 15, 2014

Senior class picks up first home win over Wingate thanks to clutch rally

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (15-6, 12-5 South Atlantic Conference) held Wingate (13-8, 10-7 SAC) without a field goal the final 7:43 of the second half to help the Eagles’ senior class and head coach Chuck Benson to their first ever home victory against the Bulldogs 67-60.

Chuck Benson interview

Kevin Leatherwood interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (15-6, 12-5 South Atlantic Conference) held Wingate (13-8, 10-7 SAC) without a field goal the final 7:43 of the second half to help the Eagles' senior class and head coach Chuck Benson to their first ever home victory against the Bulldogs 67-60.

Carson-Newman closed the game on a 13-1 run to win for the first time at Holt Fieldhouse against the Bulldogs since 2009. 

The Eagles extend their win streak to a season-long four games. They've now won 10 consecutive home games against conference competition. 

Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) saw a string of six consecutive games where he was on the court for 40 or more minutes come to a close.  The senior, as well as Jared Johnson (Springfield, Mass.), Josh Rogers (Bristol, United Kingdom) and Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.), spent significant minutes below their season averages because of foul trouble.

Davis only played 25 minutes, Johnson fouled out in 29 and Rogers garnered a DQ after just four minutes. 

"We had foul trouble the entire game," Benson said. "We never really got into a rhythm, but thankfully those last four minutes we had veterans on the floor.  When it was winning time, they helped us win."

Wingate took its largest lead of the game – a six-point advantage – with 7:43 left in the second half on a Josh Dominguez three.  The Bulldogs would finish 0-8 from the field the rest of the way.  Seven of the Bulldogs final eight field goal attempts were from beyond the arc. 

C-N made its push with 4:21 to play trailing 59-54.  Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) buried a jumper from the left of the lane to pull the Eagles within three. 

Davis drew C-N within one on a baseline drive with 2:44 to play.  Sanders gave the Eagles the lead at the line 34 seconds later 60-59. 

However, it was Kevin Leatherwood (Charlottesville, Va.) who iced the game for the Orange and Blue.  Ryan Daye clanked a three and the Eagles milked clock on their ensuing possession. 

Unable to get anything going inside, Davis fed Leatherwood the leather pumpkin and the senior drained a trey – his first and only shot of the game – from the right wing with four seconds left on the shot clock. 

"It was a busted kind of action," Benson said. "But thankfully Kevin's a kid who can hit shots. When he took it, there was no doubt in my mind that he was going to make that play.  We needed it too." 

A Sawyer Williams (Owenton, Ky.) jam and Davis free throws would help set the final margin. 

"Our seniors were going to go down swinging," Benson said. "We don't make this one any bigger than the others; but our guys were aware that we had not beaten them here. That had been because of Brian Good, their staff, their players and just how consistent they are."

Sanders produced a game-high 22 and his third consecutive game scoring 20 or more points. Williams reset his career high with 13 while Johnson and Davis each finished with 11. 

Officials whistled the teams for a combined 47 fouls, including 25 on the Eagles – the second most fouls called on C-N this year.  Wingate nailed 25-of-34 free throws, while C-N canned 16 of its 22 freebees. 

The Eagles held Wingate to 35.7 percent shooting – a season low for the Bulldogs – while Carson-Newman poured it in at a 51.2 percent clip. That tally is the highest field goal percentage Wingate has allowed this year. 

Carson-Newman faces a quick turnaround and a Monday road game at Brevard. Coverage is available on the Eagle Sports Network on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live beginning with the Countdown to Tipoff at 7:45 p.m.      

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