Ilic’s big shot gets Benson career win 250 at Newberry
January 11, 2025

Ilic’s big shot gets Benson career win 250 at Newberry

NEWBERRY, S.C. – Braden Ilic (Morristown, Tenn.) canned a left wing three to halt a Newberry (6-8, 3-7 South Atlantic Conference) comeback and propel Carson-Newman (12-6, 7-5 SAC) to an 83-82 win Saturday at Eleazer Arena. 

VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview

VIDEO: Trey Hubbard Interview

VIDEO: Braden Ilic Interview

NEWBERRY, S.C. – Braden Ilic (Morristown, Tenn.) canned a left wing three to halt a Newberry (6-8, 3-7 South Atlantic Conference) comeback and propel Carson-Newman (12-6, 7-5 SAC) to an 83-82 win Saturday at Eleazer Arena. 

The win is Chuck Benson's 250th at the helm of the C-N men's basketball program. 

"There was never a second in that game where I felt we were safe," head coach Chuck Benson said. "They ended that game with a bang.  I liked some of the opportunities we had.  We missed some heavily contested layups and some free throws which we haven't been missing that could've helped give us a little more cushion. Credit to Newberry, because they made us play for 40 minutes. Credit to our guys though, because they did complete the task, and it took all 40 minutes to do it." 

Carson-Newman stretched the lead to 15 with 5:16 to play with a corner three from Trey Hubbard.  C-N was ahead 77-62.  However, Newberry would score 18 of the game's next 21 points, tying things up after a Malakhi Stremlow three and layup on successive possessions with 51 seconds left. 

C-N made the most of its possession to break the tie.  John Zhao (Sevierville, Tenn.) found Ilic with three on the shot clock for a kickout three from the left wing.  Ilic stroked it nothing but strings to provide the cushion necessary to prevail. 

"We got it in and had a call, but could not capitalize on the call so we played in concept," Benson said. "John touched paint and they gave extra help at the rim. Braden spotted up and John shared the ball.  When it left Braden's hands, I knew it was going in." 

Newberry's Makhi Rivers went for the tie with five seconds left, but his three was off the mark.  After the rebound pinged around, Drew Robinson hit a floater from the middle of the lane with 1.1 seconds left. However, C-N was able to inbound the ball and run off the remaining time to ice the win. 

Carson-Newman shot the ball well, making 14-of-26 threes (53.8 percent) and 50.8 percent of its shots overall.  The Eagles did make a season-low 5-of-8 free throws. 

Meanwhile, the Eagles limited Newberry to 38.7 percent shooting.  The Wolves made 11-of-34 threes.  Both season highs. 

"They really surged late," Benson said. "They were capitalizing and making tough plays.  I liked their percentage. I thought overall, the things we did defensively were an improvement from the LMU game, which was a step back.   We just have to build on it and keep getting better." 

Trey Hubbard (Charlotte, N.C.) paced C-N with 20 points, his 17th career 20-point night.  He was 8-of-13 from the floor. 

"I pulled Trey over after the LMU game to encourage him," Benson said. "He needed to pay himself back by giving his best version. We made a greater emphasis in areas where Trey could be more impactful at the rim.  All that worked out. I'm happy for Trey, we don't win this game without him.  He needed a game like today, and we needed it as well." 

Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) followed with a near double-double.  He had 18 points and nine boards.  Browder connected on 4-of-7 threes. 

Nick Brenegan (Greenville, S.C.) scored 50 points less than he did the last time he played Newberry, finishing with 14.  He went 3-of-5 from deep. 

Ilic rounded out C-N's quartet of double-digit scorers with 11.  He also had four boards and two blocks.  

Stremlow led Newberry with a career-high 21.  He had a double-double with 11 rebounds. 

James Lovorn added in 18.  He went 6-for-13 from beyond the arc.  Devarrio Shepherd and Rivers finished with 16 and 15, respectively. 

Newberry owned a 42-37 edge on the glass.  The Wolves pulled in 13 offensive boards and outscored C-N 10-5 in second chance points.

C-N only turned it over 11 times, but four of those came in the final five minutes of the game as Newberry rallied. 

The win is Carson-Newman's first at Newberry since March of 2019 and snaps a streak of three straight lost to Newberry away from home. 

Carson-Newman returns home Wednesday to take on UVA Wise at 7:30 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 p.m. with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.  A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloMbb. 

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