Second half surge sends Queens past Carson-Newman

Queens (7-5, 5-3 South Atlantic Conference) shot 66 percent from the field in the second half and outscored Carson-Newman (8-4, 5-3 SAC) 47-31 in the second stanza en route to a 75-68 win at Curry Arena.

The Eagles were held to 33 percent shooting in the second frame after leaping out to an 11-point lead moments into the second half thanks to a 13-2 run that spanned the halftime break.

“They probably shot more threes than they would have liked in the first half,” Carson-Newman head coach Chuck Benson said. “The second half, they just pounded the ball inside.  They were more purposive for what they did in the second half. We just got out big-boyed in the second half.”

A Queens front line buoyed by 7-0 Nkosi Ali, plus 6-8 Josh Clyburn and 6-8 Brent Evans bullied the Eagles inside, outrebounding the Eagles 41-36. The Royals outscored the Eagles in the pain 32-22.

Carson-Newman had a 37-28 halftime lead, but could not withstand the blithering shooting percentage from the Royals.  It marks just C-N’s third loss (22-3) over the last two years when the Eagles have a lead at the break.

“It was frustrating because we thought we could force them out of the post back on the perimeter with a team defensive effort,” Benson said. “We just weren’t able to do that, especially in the second half.”

Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) led Carson-Newman with 21 points, but after sinking his first two threes, he finished 0-6 from beyond the arc.  Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) added 15 on six-of-19 shooting.  Sanders and Davis combined for 23 first half before the Royals slowed them to a combined 13 in the second half.

Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.) ended with 10 for the Eagles.

All five Queens starters finished in double figures, led by Jarrett Stokes’, a transfer from Morehead State, 20 points.  Clyburn added 15, while Evans finished with 13. Joby Glymph and Ali wound up with 12.

The big front line also blocked six Carson-Newman shots.

C-N returns  home Wednesday to face Brevard. Tipoff with the Tornados is set for 8 p.m.  Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:45 on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.