Chuck Benson By The Slice

Carson-Newman Game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (8-3, 5-2 South Atlantic Conference) will try to extend its win streak to three games when it heads to Charlotte, N.C. for a meeting with Queens (6-5, 4-3 SAC) for the first time with the two teams as conference foes. 

Queens is the second hottest team in the league – the Royals ride a three-game win streak into Saturday's 4 p.m. contest. 

"They're as talented as anyone in our league on paper," C-N head coach Chuck Benson said. "They control the ball very well.  They've got good players, defend well and take nice shots. That's a recipe for winning."

Carson-Newman and the Royals split last season's pair of nonconference meetings. C-N won at home 90-55 before dropping a contest at the Grady Cole center the next time out 70-66.  In the first meeting, Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) dropped a career high 36 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including eight-of-10 from deep.

Davis and Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) continue to lead Carson-Newman, much as they have the last three years, with 20 points and 18.3 points per game, respectively. 

The Eagles seem to have turned the corner after losing back-to-back contests prior to the Christmas break. C-N knocked off then league-leading Wingate on the road before shellacking Mars Hill at home 94-54.  In doing so, the Eagle held the Lions to the second lowest shooting percentage (29.2) of the Chuck Benson era. 

C-N and Queens have the two best scoring defenses in the league.  Queens allows 67.9 points per game, while the Eagles surrender 68.5.  They are both in the top four in the league in field goal percentage defense. 

"Styles make fights for sure," Benson said. "They do it one way that's very effective, and we do it another way that's pretty effective.  They have a very deep defensive package and they will make whatever adjustment they have to make to give them the best chance at victory."

The Royals have a solid size advantage on the Eagles. QU has eight players 6-5 or taller.  Jarrett Stokes leads the team with 19.5 points per game, while Brent Evans is third in the league in rebounding at 9.4 caroms a contest. 

Queens recently saw Nkosi Ali garner eligibility following the conclusion of the fall semester. In the Royals' four games since, the 7-0 center out of Atlanta is averaging 12.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in 25 minutes a game.

The Eagles and Royals tip off at 4 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3:45 p.m. on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. 

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