C-N heads east for rivalry Wednesday night at Tusculum

VIDEO: C-N v. Tusculum cinematic highlights

VIDEO: C-N v. Tusculum November Highlights

C-N Game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (18-7, 13-6 South Atlantic Conference) makes the trek east along 11-E to match wits for the 129^th time with rival Tusculum (5-18, 5-14 SAC) Wednesday evening in Pioneer Arena at 7:30. 

Carson-Newman won the first meeting between the two teams 95-91 way back on Nov. 20. 

Carson-Newman is angling for its first sweep of Tusculum since Charles Clark was suited up for the Eagles. C-N has not swept the regular season meetings between the clubs since Bird's senior season in 2017-18.  The Eagles have won three of the last four meetings in the series. 

The matchup pits strength versus strength.  Carson-Newman is the nation's most efficient three-point shooting team. The Eagles average 42.5 percent shooting from deep.  Since a season and three-year low 5-of-25 effort in a loss to Wingate, Carson-Newman has rattled off five straight wins while making 49-of-113, good for 43.36 percent. 

Meanwhile, Tusculum leads the three-point happy SAC in defensive three-point percentage at 32.3.  The Pioneers have given up double-digit threes in just five games this season (one of which was 11 to C-N in the meeting in Holt).  However, of those five games, only two featured shooting above 40 percent. Those are a 14-of-28 mark by Limestone and an insane 19-of-38 by Coker.

Tusculum has been strong at home in the month of February under JT Burton. The Pioneers have run up an 18-4 record inside Pioneer Arena in the month during his tenure. 

John Zhao is the ninth member of Carson-Newman's 200-three club.  Nick Brenegan joined the club earlier this season. Brenegan has 262, good for second all-time in school history.  It is unlikely that he catches the program's all-time leader Ish Sanders, and his 340 career threes.    With 226 career threes, Zhao passed assistant coach Luke Brenegan and is officially fifth all-time in threes made.   He needs 33 triples to draw level with Charles Clark and Malik Abraham for third all-time.

Zhao leads the SAC and is ninth nationally this season with 75 threes made this year.  Five more threes will give him 80 for the year - the 12th season in school history with 80 triples.  Zhao would join Ish Sanders (three), Malik Abraham (three) and Calvin Owen (two) as the only players to hit that mark twice.  Nick Brenegan is 14 threes away from that same distinction.   Ish Sanders (99) and Brenegan (108) are the only two players in school history to make more than 90 in a season.  

Zhao, Brenegan and Jack Browder are see-sawing around the all-time leading scoring list.  Zhao has 1,344 career points Brenegan 1,245 and Browder 1,202.  Zhao is oficially in the top 25 all-time in school history in scoring.  He needs 24 points to draw even with Mike Morton (1,368) to enter the top-20 all-time.  Brenegan is three points away from the top 30, which is occupied by Carson Brooks (1,248 career points).  Meanwhile, Jack Browder is chasing Brenegan and Brooks.

Reigning SAC Player of the Week Trey Hubbard has been a star turned for C-N, averaging 28.67 points and 7.67 assists per game since the calendar flipped to February.  He has done so while making 61 percent of shots and 50 percent of his threes. 

Tipoff between the Eagles and Pioneers 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 Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.