Late run downs Lions at Carson-Newman

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (9-17, 3-15 SAC) was defeated in their return to Carson-Newman (14-13, 7-12 SAC) to conclude play that was rained out on February 6th by a score of 85-73 Monday evening.

Picking up action with 13:04 remaining in the second half, Carson-Newman started on a 4-0 run to increase their lead to 16 points.  A Chris Barnette three-pointer was the catalyst for a Lions' 10-0 run to pull within six with just over eight minutes to play.  Dotson Griffin had five points in the run.

Trailing by 10 with 5:42 remaining, Mars Hill once again went on a run, stringing together six straight points, four in a row from Ja'Shawn Brooks, to close the gap to four points.  The Eagles responded with a 10-1 run late in the contest to go up 82-69 with under 40 seconds to play.  They maintained the double-digit lead to come away with the victory.

When play began on February 6th, Carson-Newman began the game on a 7-0 run with Parker Role' scoring four of the Eagles' points.  Mars Hill scored five straight to cut the deficit to two points and later in the frame, pulled to within two once more, trailing 13-11 with 13:31 left in the first half.  

A Carson-Newman 9-0 run ballooned their lead their lead to 11 points.  A Javonte Cooke layup slowed the Eagles' run momentarily before another 5-0 put Carson-Newman up 27-13 with under 10 minutes to play in the half.  

The Eagles built their lead to 20 points, 41-21, with 3:37 left to play.  They closed out the half with a 22-point lead with Mason Bates' 10 points leading the way.  Both Brooks and Matthew Powell each had seven for the Lions.

Mars Hill roared out of the gates at the start of the second half, going on an 11-0 run that brought them within striking distance with just under three minutes played.  Carson-Newman answered back with a 6-0 run of their own before Mars Hill once again began to chip into the deficit with an 8-0 run to bring the game within nine.  A three-pointer from Grant Teichmann put Carson-Newman up by 12 with 13:30 left in regulation.  Shortly after, a leak sprung in the roof of Holt Fieldhouse, delaying play until Monday evening.

Brooks led all players with 28 points followed by Powell's 12 in the contest.  Role' led the Eagles balanced scoring attack with 20 points.  Bates added 18 while Teichmann and Malik Abraham chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Mars Hill will hold their Senior Day on Wednesday, February 27th inside Stanford Arena when they host the Anderson Trojans.  Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.