Carson-Newman versus Queens, take two

Carson-Newman versus Queens, take two

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time in 18 days and the second game in a row, Carson-Newman (8-1, 1-1 SAC) will look across the court and find the Queens Royals (4-5, 2-2 Conference Carolinas).  The Eagles travel to Charlotte, N.C. to face off with the Royals Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Eagles dropped the Royals 90-55 behind a career high 36 points from Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) and 25 from Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) back on Dec. 18. 

In that meeting, the Eagles held the Royals' two leading scorers Antonio Stabler and Brent Evans to a combined five points; they were averaging more the 32 points per game entering the contest.  Sam Johnson grabbed the team high with 14 points.

"I'm sure they've learned some lessons from that first game about what we do defensively," C-N head man Chuck Benson said. "Now our schemes not going to change, but we'll have to be prepared to make some adjustments."

Carson-Newman also held Queens to a season low 34 percent shooting.  It was just the second time all year the Royals had been held under 40 percent from the field.  The Carson-Newman matchup zone also forced Queens to take a season high 28 threes.  Queens entered the game shooting 25 percent from trey ball land. 

Queens enters the game following a one-point loss to Limestone.  Stabler exploded for 28 points against the Saints.  He went for 25 in a win over Tusculum prior to the loss to C-N.  The loss to Limestone was just Queens' second loss in January over the past three seasons.

"They've won 40-plus games the last two years," Benson said. "Those kids have got some fight in them.  We know they're going to do their part.  We're just trying to focus on those things that help us do our scheme and our plan."

The Eagles returned to campus Dec. 30 for practice after breaking for Christmas. 

"We've had good practices this week since they've been back," Benson said. "But we know Queens is a team that's going to be more than prepared this time around and it'll be a very tough challenge for us this time around."

Carson-Newman is tops in the South Atlantic Conference in offensive and defensive field goal percentage, as well as assists. 

The Eagles and Royals tip at 2 p.m. Saturday. Coverage from the Grady Cole Center begins at 1:45 p.m. on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network with the Farm Bureau Countdown to Tipoff on ESPN Radio 106.3 The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com.

-CN-