Jefferson City, T.N. – The Brevard College men’s basketball team made a late second half comeback, but ultimately fell to the Carson-Newman Eagles, 76-64, in Jefferson City, T.N.

 

Brevard jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on a lay-up by sophomore Jonathan Whitson at the 18:24 mark, the Tornados last basket for the next seven minutes of play.

 

The Eagles made a run of their own, outscoring the Tornados 18-1 over the next seven minutes of play to take a 13 point lead halfway through the first half.

 

BC then battled back to cut the Eagles lead to three at 18-15, holding the home team scoreless during a 10-0 run of their own over the next two minutes.

 

The Tornados did not get any closer in the opening half until under a minute to go in the opening period, as a lay-up by sophomore Shane Galloway with 35 seconds to go in the half put the score at 40-37 in favor of the Eagles heading into the halftime break.

 

The Tornados took their first lead of the game since the opening minutes of the game at the 17:20 mark of the second half, as forward Joseph Chilton hit a three-pointer from the top of the key putting BC on top 45-44.

 

However, the Tornados could not pull away as BC pushed the lead up to three before the Eagles came soaring back to regain the lead for good at the 14:51 mark on a lay-up by Andy Tipton.

 

Carson-Newman held off the Tornados for the remainder of the game and was able to push their lead up to double digit points at the 3:13 mark, pulling away late by scoring on a number of fast break opportunities until the final buzzer sounded with the scoreboard reading 76-64.

 

Leading the way for the Tornados was Whitson with 15 points and 11 rebounds, his sixth double-double of the season. Fellow sophomore Shane Galloway was the only other BC player in double figures, scoring 14 points off the bench for the Tornados.

 

The Eagles, who had 11 players score in the game, were led by Zach Hyatte’s 16 points. Guard Andrew Johnson had 10 points off the bench for the Eagles in 16 minutes of action.

 

The Tornados will return to the “Volunteer State” on Saturday night, when they will travel to Greeneville, T.N. to take on the Pioneers of Tusculum College at 8 p.m.