JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After spending four of the last five games away from the banks of Mossy Creek, Carson-Newman (8-14, 5-11 South Atlantic Conference) returns home to take on Lenoir-Rhyne (12-9, 8-8 SAC) Wednesday night at 7:30.
After a 77-56 win over Coker on Saturday, Carson-Newman will be looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since downing Wingate and Warren Wilson in successive fashion on Nov. 30 and Dec. 4.
Carson-Newman's defense has picked up since switching to a zone defense on Feb. 1 against Anderson. While the Eagles are 1-2 in that span, they've limited their last three foes to 75 points or less. Since the switch, Eagle opponents are averaging 68.3 points per game, while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. All of those totals are well below the Eagles' season averages.
"We have to limit variety," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "This adjustment we've made defensively has allowed us to limit that. We want to keep our guys right there. Obviously Lenoir-Rhyne is one of the best shooting teams in this conference. We have to limit their threes."
For the first time in his career, Luke Brenegan has scored in double digits in three straight games. Brenegan has been hot from long range in that span. He's made 10 of his last 16 shots from deep in that stretch (62.5 percent) and comes into the contest with Lenoir-Rhyne off a five-make game from deep against Coker - that's a career high.
"I think we were committed to executing," Benson said. "When we got in the half court, we didn't settle against Coker. Our guys had a lot of confidence and built on that."
While Carson-Newman still leads the SAC and is ninth in the nation in rebounding, C-N's board numbers have taken a hit since switching to the zone. The Eagles average 42.9 caroms per contest. However, C-N hasn't grabbed more than 40 boards in a game since Jan. 25.
Granted, rebounding hasn't been a good indicator of wins or losses this year. The Eagles are 5-9 when they own a rebounding advantage and 2-4 when they don't. Historically, rebounding has been a good indicator. Since 2012, the Eagles are 104-37 when they outrebound teams, and 27-48 when losing the battle of the boards.
Lenoir-Rhyne is looking to sweep the season series for a second straight year. The Bears haven't won four straight, or swept back-to-back season series from the Eagles since doing it during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 years.
Bears guard Mason Hawks was indefensible and unstoppable in the Eagles' 85-80 loss in Hickory earlier this year. Hawks led all scorers with 25. He was 7-for-8 from long distance, making the first seven threes he took. While he still knocks down 40 percent of his threes, Hawks is in the midst of a five-game swoon. He's made four of his last 36 three-point attempts (11.1 percent) and missed his last 11 triples.
"I'd like to say that we did a bad job defensively in the first meeting and that's why he shot the ball so well," Benson said. "It wasn't that. In scouting this game, watching his shot-making, he did it at an NBA-level. We have to be intentional about guarding him knowing how capable he is."
RJ Gunn ranks sixth in the league in scoring. He averages 19.2 points per game. The Eagles hampered him as well as anyone. Gunn's eight points against C-N on Jan. 8 mark the only time this season a team has limited Gunn to single digits. Gunn has knocked down a three in nine straight games.
L-R is one of the most prolific three-point shooting teams in the country. The Bears average 10.2 makes per game. Howeverm they haven't hit that in four straight games.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Bears is slated for 7:30 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown To Tipoff on The Mountain 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
