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GREENSBORO — After eight consecutive road games that saw them travel to seven different states, N.C. A&T had a welcome-home game against a Division II opponent.

But with two starting frontcourt players missing due to injury, the Aggies had a tougher game than anticipated. After trailing by five in the second half, A&T emerged with an 81-74 win over the Carson-Newman Eagles.

The Aggies had a different look without starting center Thomas Coleman (Achilles') and starting forward Robert Johnson (shoulder). A&T didn't use its typical full-court pressure. Rather than being a mercy move against an inferior opponent, coach Jerry Eaves indicated it was out of necessity.

"They had three perimeter ball handlers who are very good," explained Eaves as to why the Aggies did not utilize their usual trapping defense.

"They really want to get the game going up and down. We wanted to stay in front of this group. They're very good. They average 73 points a game, and they're very good at what they do. We pushed up, but you just didn't see as much of the trapping."

What we did see out of A&T was 3-point shooting. In the first half the Aggies attempted 30 shots and 21 of them were from behind the arc. It was hard to argue with the results, as A&T hit 42.9 percent of its threes. However, the Aggies trailed, 40-37, at intermission.

But it was a different attack in the second half. The first eight baskets by A&T were lay-ups, follow shots and runners as the team had a mission to take the ball to the rim.

"We hit enough shots to make them play man-to-man," Eaves said of the change in focus in the second period. "When we realized they were playing man, we had to attack the basket."

Dwane Joshua, making his first start of the season, turned in his best game as an Aggie. He led all players with 31 points and 10 rebounds, both career-best marks. Joshua hit 5 3-pointers, shot 11-of-17 from the floor and hit 4-5 from the free-throw line.

"He had a tremendous night, Eaves said. "He knows he has to cut down on his turnovers. We can't accept those. He's a very good player, and I expected him to have 31. We spoke about this before (the game)."

Joshua kept A&T close in the first half with 18 points and he added 13 more after intermission, including three lay-ups.

The shots from close range led to an outstanding shooting percentage in the second half. The Aggies made 16 of 24 shots after intermission, a pace that overwhelmed the Eagles. In the second half, Carson-Newman shot 37.5 percent.

Part of the reason for the poor shooting by the visitors was the post play of James Porter. The senior center was credited with six blocks and probably had even more. Freshman DaMetrius Upchurch turned away three additional shots.

"We had a couple of turnovers which led to layups," Eagles coach Dale Clayton said of how the Aggies came back in the second half. "Which means we never had a chance to set the defense, to make a stop. I thought that was the big thing. That's how they made the run which gave them the lead."

CARSON-NEWMAN (6-6) — Dixon 3-15 3-4 9, Crane 1-7 0-0 2, Sharp 3-7 0-0 7, Maxtion 2-6 4-4 8, Evans 1-3 0-0 2, Dowdell 3-5 9-10 15, Wesley 8-14 2-4 24, Staten 3-3 0-0 7. Totals 24-60 18-22 74.

N.C. A&T (5-9) — Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Porter 3-4 0-2 6, Alston 5-12 5-7 16, Joshua 11-17 4-5 31, Simpson 6-9 2-4 17, Buck 0-0 0-0 0, Powell 0-2 0-0 0, Hill 2-3 3-3 8, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Witter 1-3 0-0 3, Upchurch 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-54 14-23 81.

Halftime—Carson-Newman 40-37.
3-point goals—Carson-Newman 8-17 (Wesley 6-9, Staten 1-1, Sharp 1-3, Crane 0-1, Dixon 0-3), N.C. A&T 11-25 (Joshua 5-7, Simpson 3-5, Hill 1-2, Witter 1-3, Alston 1-6, Powell 0-2).
Rebounds—Carson-Newman 32 (Dowdell 8), N.C. A&T 36 (Joshua 10).
Assists—Carson-Newman 5 (Dixon 2), N.C. A&T 18 (Alston 6).
Total fouls—Carson-Newman 23, N.C. A&T 17.
Fouled out—Sharp.
A—1,893.