JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's men's hoops team (7-7, 3-5 South Atlantic Conference) is looking to bounce back from its worst offensive performance in half a decade when it welcomes Brevard (2-11, 1-6 SAC) to Holt Fieldhouse for an 8 p.m. tip Wednesday.
Carson-Newman fell 71-48 at Wingate Saturday. It marked the first time since a February 2011 trip to Wingate (a 71-46 final) that the Eagles had been held under 50 points. The Eagles failed to hit a three-point attempt for the first time since December 2014 and an overtime loss to Clayton State (C-N was 0-8 from three that day and 0-12 against the Bulldogs).
Furthermore, the Eagles normally efficient guards were a collective 3-for-25 from the field in that game.
The game marked the second time the Eagles had been held below 40 percent shooting from the field the season.
In addition to getting back on the right side of the win-loss column over, Carson-Newman is looking to get back on the winning side of the coin against Brevard. The Eagles had never lost to BC in Chuck Benson's tenure as head coach prior to Brevard's 63-60 win over Carson-Newman in Holt Fieldhouse last year.
Prior to that, the Eagles had beaten BC by at least 20 four of the previous five meetings and in nine straight overall.
The Tornados are 0-2 in Holt Fieldhouse already this season. Brevard lost to Lander 75-63 and Southern Wesleyan 85-76 in the Carson-Newman Classic to start the season.
Carson-Newman has been a mystery wrapped in an enigma this season. The Eagles are shooting 51.2 percent from the field this season (fifth in the nation). C-N is one of 19 teams nationally with a 50 percent or better average from the field this year. Among those teams, 16 have four or fewer losses. The Eagles and Seton Hill (6-8) are the only teams in that list who have records of .500 or worse.
Brevard has lost five in a row, dating back to a 69-64 win over Coker. The Tornados have been outrebounded in each of those contests.
Demarcus Threatt has been Brevard's biggest threat this season. He has six, 20-point efforts on the year, including five consecutive at one point. He ranks third in the league in scoring with 19.5 points per game behind L-R's Keenan Palmore and C-N's Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn). Threatt and Miles Leathers have hit double digits in every game this season for Brevard.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Tornados is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday in Holt Fieldhouse. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
