VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (6-4, 4-3 South Atlantic Conference) will look to put a bow on Holt Fieldhouse for 2021 when it welcomes Mars Hill (4-6, 4-3 SAC) to Mossy Creek for a 7:30 p.m. tip Wednesday.
The Lions have lost two straight to Lincoln Memorial and Queens, while Newberry snapped Carson-Newman's five-game win streak 55-51 Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles suffered through season lows for scoring (51), field goal percentage (38.9), threes made (four) and assists (six) en route to losing just its second game in the last decade when holding an opponent to 60 points or less.
"It's one of those taboo topics for coaches and players," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "We're executing things offensively and getting good shots. We just haven't made them as efficiently as we can and well. I'm not worried and I don't think our players are worried about it because they shouldn't be. We'll live with outcomes as long as we control what we can control."
In spite of the swoon from the last game offensively, Carson-Newman has been dialed in defensively in December.
Since the calendar turned, Carson-Newman has been averaging 45.5 rebounds per game and a +10.2 rebounding margin for the month.
At the same time, Carson-Newman has limited its last four foes below 40 percent shooting - the fifth streak of three games or more under head coach Chuck Benson and the third in the last two seasons. Opponents are averaging 37.3 percent shooting against Carson-Newman for the month of December from the field and 15.04 percent shooting from three.
Carson-Newman has held five straight opponents to 40 percent shooting or worse just once (Jan. 2012) since Chuck Benson took over as head coach in 2010.
"I love our players, their commitment and their talents," Benson said. "We've proven were a shot-making team and have done it consistently. We've hit a patch that we will bounce back out of offensively while our defense has been absolutely elite."
Bryant Thomas comes into the contest with 91 career blocks, nine away from becoming Carson-Newman's second triple-digit block performer for a career. He currently sits tied for second all-time. His next rejection will move him past Brandon Evans (2009-11) into sole possession of second. Andy Tipton holds the school record (2004-09) with 109 career rejections - Thomas is 18 rejections away.
Thomas is once again among the best in the nation at rejecting shots. He is third nationally with 24 blocks and 11th in the country with 2.4 re-directs per game. Thomas is the league leader in both categories.
The contest features two of the best rebounders and shot blockers in the South Atlantic Conference. Bryant Thomas leads the league in blocks and ranks fourth in rebounding with 8.4 rebounds per game. Isayah Johnson is second in the conference with 17 rejections. He is the league's second-leading rebounder with 8.5 boards per game.
Both Carson-Newman and Mars Hill have blocked more shots than any other team in the SAC this year. Both teams have 41 rejections on the year to lead the league and rank 19th in the nation.
Mars Hill shoots more threes than all but one team in the league (Lincoln Memorial). The Lions have attempted 275 triples this season - the 17th most in the country. The Lions have put up 20+ threes in every game this season save for an 86-66 win over UVA Wise. The Lions have attempted more than 30 in three games.
Mars Hill guard Kadyn Hawkins is the highest scoring true freshman in the South Atlantic Conference. Hawkins is averaging 16.3 points per game. He has scored in double-digits in six straight and has four 20-point games in that stretch. He scored 29 on 11-of-15 shooting against Catawba in an 89-75 win over the Indians.
"He's one of those relatively unknown commodities," Benson said. "But the longer that it goes, the more he'll become a primary focal points of opponents. Credit to him, he's probably done more than most would think he would do as a freshman putting up big point after big point game before Christmas."
Tipoff between the Eagles and Lions is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown To Tipoff on Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
