Keliese Frye takes off for a layup in Carson-Newman's 79-72 win over Newberry on Jan. 17, 2026.
Keliese Frye takes off for a layup in Carson-Newman's 79-72 win over Newberry on Jan. 17, 2026.
January 17, 2026

C-N halts skid with efficient night against Newberry

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. –  Carson-Newman (9-7, 4-5 South Atlantic Conference) shot a season-high 47.1 percent from deep, got up big early and stiff-armed Newberry (8-8, 4-5 SAC) to 79-72 win Saturday afternoon inside Holt Fieldhouse. 

VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview

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VIDEO: Jack Browder Interview

VIDEO: Matt Bilbrey Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. –  Carson-Newman (9-7, 4-5 South Atlantic Conference) shot a season-high 47.1 percent from deep, got up big early and stiff-armed Newberry (8-8, 4-5 SAC) to 79-72 win Saturday afternoon inside Holt Fieldhouse. 

The win snapped C-N's four-game losing streak, gave the Eagles their first win of 2026 and push the Eagles' winning streak in the series with Newberry to a fourth straight game. 

"We needed this win like a sinner needs a savior," head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "It's been a challenging couple of weeks.  Our guys have been trying to find a happy place in the face of adversity. It's been tough.  One player came into my office before the game and said, 'I'm glad to be dealing with this now so that we can sharpen our point going into February.' I'm thrilled for our guys and the way we defended, to go with the confidence I saw some guys play with today. All around, good day, and it sure was time." 

Carson-Newman used a 12-0 run to get up 13 in conjunction with a near six-minute scoring drought from Newberry in the middle of the first half. 

Matt Bilbrey (Crossville, Tenn.) and Keliese Frye (Newport, Ky.) ignited the surge. Bilbrey hit a turnaround jumper before Frye exploded with a two-handed jam running the middle of the lane and an and-one reverse layup.  C-N led 27-14 with 5:55 to go in the first half.

Newberry would erase the bulk of that lead with a 9-0 run as Braden Ilic (Morristown, Tenn.) and Frye headed to the bench in foul trouble.  Browder would join the pair with his second personal and C-N turned a freshman, four-man rotation off the bench. The quartet of Colin Brown (Bristol, Tenn.), Caiden Botts (Cleveland, Tenn.), Aivaras Uosis (Dingle, Ireland) and Isaac Stamper (Middletown, Ohio), helped guide C-N on a 6-0 run to close the first half and carry a 35-25 lead into the locker room. 

"Our entire rotation off the bench today was freshman," Benson said. "In this kind of game, we needed them to be solid and they were solid. Collectively, we were plus eight with them on the court.  That went back to the way they defended and stayed committed to getting stops. We had a separation run going into halftime in the final four minutes with them on the floor. No one in the SAC played four freshmen off the bench today. The fact that they responded the way they did to help us is much appreciated." 

The lead hovered around the halftime margin for the majority of the second half – until Drake Downs and Drew Robinson drilled successive threes in nine seconds sandwiched around a C-N turnover in the backcourt.  That carved a nine-point C-N lead down to three, 73-70 with 96 seconds left.  However, the Eagles answered with five straight to cement the win. 

 

"Our guys had been suffering through these last two weeks," Benson said. "Today, there was a level of resolve to simply our processes. We decluttered minds and that helped us some. We found a happy place and delivered, especially with our shot-making.  Everything feels better when the ball is going in the basket." 

Carson-Newman shot 54.0 percent from the field while holding Newberry to 37.9 percent shooting. 

The Wolves balanced out the shooting discrepancy by going 24-of-27 at the line compared to the Eagles' 17-of-24 effort, and by outrebounding C-N 36-30.

C-N's 54-percent night is its fourth 50 percent shooting effort of the year, and its first since a 100-73 win at Tusculum on Dec. 10. 

The Eagles and Newberry were deadlocked with 15 turnovers a piece, however, C-N owned a 15-11 edge in points off turnovers. 

Browder led C-N with 24 points and seven boards – his 44th career 20-point game.  He was 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep. 

Bilbrey followed with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting.  He was 3-of-6 from deep. 

"Matt played with great poise today," Benson said. "He's getting in a good head space. He's our guy at the point.  He's just a sophomore, but he plays with the poise of a more veteran player."  

Bilbrey matched his career high with eight assists. 

Rylan Houck (Oxford, Ala.) rounded out C-N's trio of double-digit scorers. He had an efficient 15, going 6-of-8 from the field. 

The SAC's second leading scorer, Drake Downs, led Newberry with 23.  He was 9-of-14 from the field and scored 19 after halftime.  Robinson had 17, while Makhi Rivers and Kayzzin McDowell added 13 and 12, respectively. 

C-N knocked down 8-of-17 threes on the day. The Wolves were 4-of-22 from deep. 

Carson-Newman hits the road Wednesday to take on Mars Hill. Tipoff with the Lions is set 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.  A live look at press row with Adam Cavalier on the microphone is available on YouTube. 

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