JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's men's basketball team opens up the regular season of its 2012-2013 campaign by making the journey to Banner Elk, N.C., to square off with the Lees-McRae Bobcats (0-1).

Carson-Newman is coming off a pair of close exhibition losses to Division I competition.  The Eagles fell to ETSU 71-65 and Appalachian State 62-59.  Neither contest was decided until the final minute.

Lees-McRae started off its season with a 93-79 loss to Johnson C. Smith.

"I was pleased and proud with our team's performance in the exhibition games," Carson-Newman head men's hoops coach Chuck Benson said. "We've got a veteran club that's focused on weekly and daily improvement.  We've got to focus on the small details to get where we want to get." 

Carson-Newman defeated Lees-McRae at home last season 94-73.  Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) and Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) both popped the Bobcats for 21 points last season.

"We played both my first and second year," Benson said. "One of my greatest concerns was that my guys might take them for granted somehow.  We're really pressing them not to have that mindset and hopefully our vets will respond to that."

The Bobcats return four of five starters from a 9-17 club in 2011-2012 and are led by guards Daniel Sepokas and Asad Lamot

"Their scheme and style is a little more contemporary with a fast, quick offense," Benson said.

Lamot averaged 10.2 points/game last season and dropped 12 on Johnson C. Smith, while Sepokas is coming off a 21 point game against the Golden Bulls. 

"Lamot is versatile and runs the point, he's very steady," Benson said. "Sepokas is their best all-around offensive player.  Those guys are going to challenge our perimeter defenders.  Hopefully our zone and pressure will be able to limit their drive effectiveness."

Carson-Newman's two All-SAC first team selections, Sanders and Davis, scored 16 and 21 respectively in the Eagles last exhibition contest against the Mountaineers.

The Eagles and Bobcats tip it off Monday at 7 p.m. from Williams Gymnasium. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network on 106.3 ESPN Radio the Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com

-CN-