JEFFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (9-5, 6-4 South Atlantic Conference) starts a string of five out of six games away from Holt Fieldhouse with a visit to Catawba (6-7, 5-6 South Atlantic Conference) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles will be fresh off a CoVID pause and an unplanned week between games after dropping below the minimum number of players for competition.
Carson-Newman has dropped back-to-back road games. The Eagles are looking to avoid their first three-game road losing streak since losing eight straight away from home from Nov. 8, 2019 - Feb. 5, 2020.
The Eagles have been far better in Holt Fieldhouse than away from the friendly confines. Carson-Newman averaged 79.2 points per game on 47.2 percent shooting from the field and 42.2 percent shooting from three in Holt Fieldhouse. On the road, those numbers dip to 68.5 points per game with 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 26.3 percent shooting from three.
Catawba is coming off its own CoVID pause and a 93-87 win over Anderson on the road Monday night where the Indians erased a 17-point deficit.
The Indians are 3-1 since the insertion of Bernard Pelote and Michael Hueitt Jr. at the end of the fall semester.
"We know that they have yet been able to put their most talented team on the floor as much as they'd like," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "Of course, I'd argue the same could be said for us. Thankfully, for us, our style of play allows for us to not break with anything from a preparation standpoint. It makes it easier for us to break down what we are looking for to create and construct a plan."
Carson-Newman hasn't shot better than 35 percent from beyond the arc on the road. Their best game was their lone road win when they knocked down 8-of-23 (34.6 percent) threes at UVA Wise.
C-N will be looking for back-to-back wins at Goodman Gym for the first time not only under Chuck Benson, but also this century. Carson-Newman prevailed last year 87-74 in Salisbury behind 24 points from Tripp Davis and 22 points from Luke Brenegan.
The Eagles have had their own slew of roster issues this season. After utilizing the same starting five in 26 straight games last year, the Eagles have had to trot out four different starting fives in 2021-22.
"We're proud of guys for stepping up and doing the job that needs to be done," Benson said. "We kept a clean rotation all last year. But, playing in a pandemic, you know things are going to happen. I'm thankful that we have been for the most part healthy. We'll play who is there and I'm confident that they'll go out there and compete to the best of their abilities."
Bryant Thomas comes into the contest with 93 career blocks, seven away from becoming Carson-Newman's second triple-digit block performer for a career. He is second all-time. Andy Tipton holds the school record (2004-09) with 109 career rejections - Thomas is 16 rejections away.
Thomas is once again among the best in the nation at rejecting shots. He is 14th nationally with 26 blocks and 23rd in the country with 2.00 re-directs per game. Thomas is the league leader in both categories. He also leads the league in rebounding and is 19th nationally with 113 caroms collected.
Carson-Newman has the country's 21st best shot-blocking team with 57 total rejections. The Eagles lead the league for the category.
Catawba is paced by the South Atlantic Conference's leading scorer Caleb Robinson. Robinson's 21.4 points per game are good for 21st most in the country. Robinson has scored double-digits in all 12 games for the Indians. He's topped 20 or more on six occasions, including a 42-point outburst in the Indians' 101-97 two-OT win at Limestone. A 56.3 percent shooting, Robinson has shot better than 40 percent in every game this season.
"He still has a ton of ball to play at Catawba," Benson said. "He's pound-for-pound potentially the most athletic guy in the conference. He is so efficient, and that makes him so much more loveable if you're his coach or teammates. But they have so many threats beyond him. They have multiple guys who can get it done."
After starting the season 0-7 from three and without a triple through the first six games of the year, Robinson has knocked down a three in six straight games. • Carson-Newman shot 66 and 52 percent from the field in last year's wins over Catawba while going 15-of-25 from deep.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Indians is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
