JEFFERSON CITY, TENN.-- Lenoir-Rhyne rallied late but couldn't complete the comeback in a seven point loss at Carson-Newman on Saturday. Jalen Johnson scored 10 points in a 1:59 span late in the second half to pull LR within four but Carson-Newman pulled it out late with free throws. The Bears struggled from the field in the game and couldn't overcome a sluggish first half that saw them score 20 points. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Carson-Newman 60, Lenoir-Rhyne 53
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (8-9, 3-6 SAC), Carson-Newman (12-7, 6-3 SAC)
Location: Jefferson City, Tenn. | Holt Fieldhouse

STATS OF THE GAME:
- For the second straight game, defense dominated the first half. After seeing Wednesday's game at Newberry go into the break with LR up 22-19, the Bears would go into half at Carson-Newman down 27-20.
- T.J. Nesmith was the standout on offense for the Bears in the first 20 minutes with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting. 
- LR would shoot just 8-of-28 from the floor (28.6 percent) and went 3-of-14 from long range. 
- C-N hit on 52.4 percent of their first half shots but turned the ball over 11 times and took just 21 shots. Nick Brenegan came off the bench to go 5-for-6 and 3-for-4 from deep to lead all scorers with 13 first half points.
- The Eagles would have the upperhand much of the second half but LR had one last run in them. 
- C-N was up as much as 14 in the second half and eight with 1:55 to play, the Bears would rally behind their point guard. 
- Jalen Johnson had 10 points in a 1:59 span to cut the Eagle lead to 57-53 with 1:13 to go. 
- The Bears got a defensive stop and had a 3-point attempt with 53 seconds left to cut it to one but they couldn't convert as Carson-Newman iced it with free throws down the stretch. 
- Neither team shot above 38 percent in the second half and they combined for 21 turnovers and 29 fouls in the final 20 minutes. 
- For the day, LR shot just 33% from the field and 28% from deep but were able to force 21 turnovers and turn those into 15 points. 
- Johnson had 22 points with 16 coming in the second half. 
- C-N had three players in double figures led by 15 from Brenegan and 13 from Bryant Thomas. 
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 
- LR continues its terrific defense of the 3-point line, holding the Eagles to 27.3 percent. On the year, LR holds opponents to just 29 percent shooting from long range.
- The win ends Carson-Newman's six-game losing streak. The Eagles hadn't won since December 19.
- This is the longest win streak for Carson-Newman over LR as they have now won five straight over the Bears. 
- LR is 37-35 against the Eagles in the NCAA era. 
- LR has gone three straight without scoring above 60 points in Holt Fieldhouse.

UP NEXT:  LR will return home for a pair of games next week starting with Catawba on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.