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JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (18-5, 11-4 South Atlantic Conference) renews its rivalry with Tusculum (10-11, 8-7 SAC) for the 184th time when the Pioneers come to Holt Fieldhouse for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff Wednesday night.
The contest, and the women's game before it, have been designated Play4Kay games in honor of breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink. The Carson-Newman Student Athlete Advisory Committee and Eagle Club will play host to a three-point shootout at halftime of the women's game to collect money for the charity. The SAAC will also be collecting money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund during the men's game.
Carson-Newman won the first meeting between the teams on Dec. 13 83-73. The double-digit road win at Pioneer Arena is the first for the Eagles at Tusculum since Jan, 6, 2016 (an 86-65 win).
Carson-Newman used a suffocating defense and a 25-4 first-half run to build a 40-18 halftime lead on the Pioneers. It marked the fewest points scored in a half by an opponent since the Eagles' limited Mars Hill to 20 on Feb. 6 last year. C-N shot 51.9 percent from the field in the opening stanza while limiting the Pioneers to 25.8 percent shooting.
Carson-Newman has not swept a season series against Tusculum since the 2017-18 season. Carson-Newman hasn't won at home against the Pioneers since a 72-68 decision on Jan. 15, 2020. The Pioneers have won three straight in Holt Fieldhouse.
"They have played very well in our gym since JT Burton got there," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "We know it'll be quite the battle. I'm confident our guys will be ready to play, and our student section and community will come out to support us. We're excited to have a great atmosphere and perform at a level that is worthy of winning."
Nick Brenegan's 4.33 made triples per game are the most in the country. He has buried 93 this season. also first nationally among all divisions by pure volume. If he were to maintain this pace, he would break Ish Sanders' single-season record of 99 and become the first Eagle with triple-digit threes in a season. There have been 11 triple-digit three-point seasons in SAC history. He also ranks fifth nationally and third in the SAC in percentage at 50.0 percent for the season.
Nick Brenegan and John Zhao are both top 10 in Division II among active players in career three-point field goal percentage. Brenegan is fourth amoing active players at 45.5 percent. Zhao is eighth at 44.6 percent.
John Zhao has produced a quartet of 30-point games this season. He has tied Charles Clark for the second-most in the NCAA-era for a single season. Clark had 14, 30-point games in his career, including five in his senior season in 2017-18. He had four as a sophomore, three as a junior and two as a freshman. Since being held to eight against Wingate on Jan. 20, Zhao is averaging 27.33 points per game over his last six. That comes with some stupefying efficiency. He has a 67.9/61.3/84.4 slash line. He is 27-of-44 from deep in that stretch, an average of 4.5 threes per game.
Carson-Newman has been on another level offensively at home. C-N has topped triple digits in eight of its 12 home games. The Eagles average 102.3 points at home, while shooting 55.5 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from three. Carson-Newman has scored at least 90 in all 11 of its home victories this season.
This iteration of the Eagles has the most 100-point performances since moving to NCAA Division II with 10. There have been just five seasons in Carson-Newman men's basketball history with double-digit 100-point games in a season. The last was in 1987-88 when a fourth straight Chris Jones-coached team accomplished it with 11. The 1970-71 team holds the record with 12 such games.
Carson-Newman is second in the country in rebounding margin, averaging an 10.8 rebound advantage per game. Carson-Newman has outrebounded 16 of 23 opponents this year by double digits. Tusculum is the only team this season to outrebound Carson-Newman. C-N has outrebounded four teams this year by 20 or more. Eight teams this season have grabbed six or fewer offensive rebounds against the Eagles.
Tipoff between Carson-Newman and Tusculum is slated for 7:30. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available through FloSports at cneagles.com/FloMbb with a subscription.
