VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (12-9, 8-7 South Atlantic Conference) will honor the 1957-58 Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season champion men's basketball team in a pregame ceremony when it plays host to the Catawba College Catawba Indians (10-11, 8-7 SAC).
"We love it any time former players get a chance to come back," head coach Chuck Benson said. "These guys meant a lot to Carson-Newman when they played here. They've all gone on to do big things with their lives and have further represented this institution well. Anytime you get a chance to get them back here, I hope it motivates our guys to put forth a nice performance and get them connected to our current generation of Eagles."
The 1957-58 squad went 17-6 en route to the SMAC title. For the 58th anniversary of that season, the surviving players will gather for a luncheon prior to the game and be recognized during a pregame ceremony.
The group will hope to witness a series split between the Eagles and Indians. Catawba is looking for its first sweep of Carson-Newman since the 2010-11 season, Chuck Benson's first season at Mossy Creek. The Eagles have won four consecutive at Holt Fieldhouse over that span.
Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) is on a scoring tear that is unmatched over the last 15 years at Carson-Newman. Clark has scored 30 or more points three times in the last four games. Clark's trio of 30-point games this season matches what Ish Sanders did in his entire senior season.
"Charles is talented, there's no doubt," Benson said. "He knows going down the stretch that every game is critical. He's been focused, but now he's really locked in trying to put forth the best effort he can put forth to give our team a better chance to win."
With five 30-point games, Clark has as many as Sanders (the program's fifth all-time leading scorer) had in his career at Mossy Creek. The South Atlantic Conference's leading scorer reset his career high with 39 points the last time out against Mars Hill. Astoundingly, 20 of those points came in the final 8:54 of the game and 10 in the final 4:56.
Catawba has the best three-point field goal percentage defense in the conference. The Indians' opposition shoots 32.9 percent from deep this season. Astoundingly (and perhaps this is just the way the SAC plays), that figure only ranks 64th best nationally. Only five teams have buried 10 or more threes on the Indians this season.
Jerrin Morrison had 26 points off the bench for the Indians in the previous meeting this season. The Indians' leading scorer, Jameel Taylor, had 14 points and was the only other Indian in double figures on the day.
Carson-Newman has come to be a cut above with its offensive efficiency. The Eagles lead the nation, shooting at 52.9 percent on the season. However, what's more impressive is that Carson-Newman is shooting 56.7 percent from the field over its last five games.
"We have to be poised and confident to do what we've been doing," Benson said. "We need to get the ball in transition after missed shots, then once we get in the half court, get to the rim with either the pass or the dribble."
Tipoff between the Eagles and Indians is set for 4 p.m. Saturday. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live/.
