Carson Lifts Lions to Victory at Brevard
Michael Carson’s 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining proved to be the game-winning shot as Mars Hill defeated Brevard 66-61
BREVARD, N.C.- Michael Carson's 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining proved to be the game-winning shot as Mars Hill defeated Brevard 66-61 in South Atlantic Conference basketball action on Wednesday in Boshammer Gymnasium. Mars Hill improves to 9-12 overall and 4-11 in the league while Brevard falls to 9-12 and 7-8.
Isaiah Cuthbertson led Mars Hill with 19 points followed by Carson with 14 and Thomas Anderson with 10 points. Valentine Bauer led the Lions with 10 rebounds while scoring five points.
Brevard was led by Miles Leathers with 17 points, followed by Trevon Shaw with 12 points and Phil Wallace with 11. Jaylon Debardlabon pulled down six rebounds to lead the Tornados.
Trailing 59-58, Carson took a pass from Jalen Witherspoon and buried his lone 3-pointer of the night to give the Lions a 61-59 advantage. On the next Brevard possession, Darius Moose missed a 3-pointer with Carson pulling down the rebound and passing to Anderson for a layup and a 63-59 lead with 45 seconds left. Moose pulled the Tornados to within two, 63-61, with 28 seconds left but would get no closer as Carson forced a turnover on the final Brevard possession.
Mars Hill opened the game on a 21-5 run, shooting over 60 percent while holding the Tornados to under 20 percent from the field during that stretch. Brevard went on a 12-1 run to cut the Lion lead to nine, 26-17 with 5:29 to go in the first half. The Lions answered with a 6-0 run to lead 32-17 before the Tornados outscored Mars Hill 10-2 to close out the half as Mars Hill led 34-27 at the break.
A pair of Leathers 3-pointers brought the hosts to within two, 35-33, with 18:19 remaining. Leathers would give the Tornados a 36-35 lead on their next possession by completing the old-fashioned three-point play with 17:44 remaining. The teams would trade the lead three times with one tie before a Bauer 3-pointer gave the Lions a 50-47 advantage with 10:56 remaining. The Lions extended their lead to 56-48 following a pair of Anderson free throws and a Witherspoon layup with 6:33 remaining. Brevard began a 12-0 run with a Brayden Masten layup and took a 57-56 lead with 3:22 to go following a pair of Wallace free throws. A Shaw layup gave the Tornados a 59-56 lead before Carson made two free throws with 2:12 remaining to set the stage for his heroics.
Mars Hill returns to Stanford Arena on Saturday for a 4 p.m. matchup against Coker.