Staff report

GRANITE QUARRY — Carson’s game plan against East Rowan on Tuesday was simple — take away the 3-point line.

Carson’s execution of that scheme was actually pretty good. East made only four 3-pointers in the North Piedmont Conference contest and Dylan Valley, the Mustangs’ most prolific 3-point marksman didn’t make any.

But the Mustangs found other ways to win.

They beat Carson 65-49 with 2-point buckets and with scoring from guys who don’t normally pile up points.

Sammy Pinckney scored a career-best 18 points for the Mustangs, while Landon Shuping careered with 16. Both of those players came in averaging under 5 points per game.

“Pinckney and Shuping killed us,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said. “They were more aggressive offensively than we anticipated tonight. And Vincent Jones hurt us on the boards.”

Jones matched his season high with 16 points and had eight rebounds.

East (5-4, 4-3) swept Carson in home-and-home league games for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

Now the Mustangs have a serious shot at their first winning conference record since the 2011-12 season when they were 7-5 in the North Piedmont Conference.

Carson (1-8, 0-7) lost its eighth straight.

Emory Taylor made six 3-pointers for the Cougars and scored 20, although four of those 3s came in the fourth quarter after East had the game well in hand.

Brodie Johnson added 10 points.

AJ Merriman got in early foul trouble and didn’t score. He’s been one of Carson’s leaders.

“Emory got hot in the fourth quarter and made things more respectable, but most of the night we just couldn’t find any way to score,” Perry said.

East led 37-25 at the half. It was 53-31 heading to the fourth quarter.

East rallied and won in overtime in the game played at Carson.

 

CARSON (49) — Taylor 20, Johnson 10, Howard 7, Burris 6, McBride 4, Collins 2, Beasley, Merriman, Hennie, Epley.

EAST (65) — Pinckney 18, Shuping 16, Jones 16, Padgett 6, Jordan 6, Valley 2, Ellis 1, Schenck, Dale, Usher, Clement, Young.

Carson      14    11   6   18   — 49

E. Rowan   15 22   16   12   — 65