Chuck Benson By The Slice – AU preview

C-N Game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second consecutive contest, Carson-Newman (11-5, 8-4 South Atlantic Conference) takes on a team on a four-game win streak in a matchup that amounts to a battle for second in the SAC standings. 

The Eagles travel to the Abney Athletic Center to take on Anderson (13-5, 8-4 SAC) Wednesday at 8 p.m. 

Anderson features the SAC's most prolific scorer and three-point shooter in Chandler Hash.  Hash averages 23 points per game to lead the league (11^th in the nation) and hits 3.6 treys per game.  That tally is also tops for the SAC and is seventh in the nation. 

"He's a senior and he's hungry and proven," Carson-Newman head coach Chuck Benson said. "We have to identify and find him, thus limiting his clean looks at the basket. You're not going to shut him down completely.  But you have to find him in transition and limit his touches." 

Hash hit seven-of-nine threes against the Eagles in an 85-80 Anderson win in the Abney Athletic Center last season.  He finished that game with 25 points.  However, C-N limited Hash to 15 points and just 15 points on four-of-nine shooting in the second meeting last year, a 92-55 win for the Eagles. 

Yet, it's not just the Chandler Hash show for the Trojans. CJ Gleaton averages 16 points and seven rebounds. 

"Gleaton would have played last year had he not gotten hurt; he and Hash together are taking a ton of free throws," Benson said. "He can catch and shoot the three, but he can attack the rim too.  The Trojans have got a good blend with those two."

Myson Jones and Chris Ross also average double figures for the Trojans. Four of AU's five losses this season have come by a single possession. 

"They're always prepared and their schemes are unique," Benson said. "It's probably going to be do or die late in the game, and we'll be happy to be there. Last year it came down to one of the last possessions in the game. Everyone knows what's at stake when we go down there Wednesday."

The Eagles' Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) are both on the cusp of a couple of career milestones. Sanders needs one three to match Kyle Moore's (Tusculum) South Atlantic Conference record for made threes in a career with 306 and two triples to break it. 

Meanwhile Davis needs 14 more points for 1,311 for his career to break into Carson-Newman's top 10 all-time scoring list. 

The Eagles and Trojans tipoff at 8 p.m. Wednesday.  Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:45 p.m. on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. 

-CN-