JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Thanks to exposure to CoVID within Lincoln Memorial's men's basketball program, Carson-Newman's Wednesday rivalry meeting with the Railsplitters has been cancelled.
The Railsplitters end the regular season on a two-game losing streak while Carson-Newman has won eight straight games. The Eagles also lost games at the end of the year with Limestone (CoVID) and Coker (re-structuring of the SAC men's basketball championships).
In addition to not playing their final two games of the regular season, the Railsplitters will not be able to participate in the upcoming 2021 SAC Pilot Flying Men's Basketball Championship. LMU will be eligible for participation in the Southeast Regiona barring any future CoVID issues.
As a result of Lincoln Memorial not playing in the men's basketball championship, the men's tournament will now feature 12 teams. The top four seeds will receive an opening round bye. An updated schedule for the SAC Pilot Flying J Men's Basketball Championship can be found below.
Thanks to Lincoln Memorial's cessation of basketball activities, Carson-Newman finds itself in a strong position for a first round bye and a quarterfinal home game for the SAC basketball championship. However, the Eagles' will be unable to help out their own cause.
Carson-Newman, under consideration for an NCAA regional berth, finishes its regular season 13-5 and 11-5 in SAC Play. The Eagles sit poised for a three seed in the SAC tournnament. However, to attain that, Carson-Newman would need Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry to both split their final two games of the year. The Bears wrap up the year travelling to Catawba and Tusculum. Newberry finishes at Anderson and at home against Coker.
Carson-Newman's women's game against the Railspllitters is unaffected and will tip at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
2021 SAC Pilot Flying J Men's Basketball Championship Schedule
Opening Round – February 27
Game 1 – #9 at #8
Game 2 – #10 at #7
Game 3 – #11 at #6
Game 4 – #12 at #5
Quarterfinal Round – March 1
Game 5 – Game 1 winner at #1
Game 6 – Game 2 winner at #2
Game 7 – Game 3 winner at #3
Game 8 – Game 4 winner at #4
Semifinal Round – March 4
Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 winner (at higher seed)
Game 10 – Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner (at higher seed)
Championship – March 7
Game 11 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (at higher seed)
