Chuck Benson By The Slice – Wingate Preview

C-N game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The last South Atlantic Conference team to beat Carson-Newman (14-6, 11-5 SAC) invades Holt Fieldhouse once again for a 4 p.m. tipoff Saturday with the Eagles. 

Wingate (13-7, 10-6 SAC) hasn't lost to the Eagles in Holt since 2009.  The Bulldogs handed the Eagles a 63-52 loss at home last year. The Eagles have won nine straight conference home games since then.   

"Holt's been good to us this year," C-N head men's hoops coach Chuck Benson said. "But it'll take our best to beat them here. That we haven't beaten them here sticks out in my mind."   

Benson's Eagles have won twice at Wingate's Cuddy Arena, but have never defeated WU under his four-year tenure at home.

Wingate, meanwhile is winless on the road in 2014.  The Bulldogs haven't won away from Cuddy Arena since a 90-89 win over Johnson C. Smith on Dec. 9. 

The Bulldogs come into the contest off a strong 85-75 home victory over Anderson that snapped a seven-game win streak for the Trojans. 

"I've had a chance to watch their game with Anderson and I think they are much improved," Benson said. "They've got guys with motors and they're going to come in here with revenge on their mind.  They're physical, they're tough and they play exceptional defense.  Our win there means nothing."

The Eagles beat Wingate 80-72 in the previous meeting. Ish Standers (Cleveland, Tenn.) produced 29 points (including 13-of-14 from the charity stripe) and Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) tallied 25. 

The Bulldogs have six players who average 8.0 points or more.  WU has received significant contributions from a pair of freshman in Josh Dominguez (10.8 ppg) and Isiah Cureton (9.1ppg, 6.7 rpg).

"Cureton and Dominguez have both really stepped up," Benson said. "Week by week those guys have gotten better.  The improvement they've made in a month is substantial.  One, if not both of those guys should be all freshman." 

Ryan Daye leads Wingate in scoring with 18.3 points per game, while Deion Turman is the only player in the SAC to average a double-double a game with 13.1 points and 10.1 caroms a contest. 

Tipoff Saturday is set for 4 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3:45 p.m. with the Countdown to Tipoff on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. 

-CN-