JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (4-1) will look to extend a four-game winning streak and match its best start in five years when it plays host to local foe Johnson University (0-8) Monday night at 7:30 p.m.
A win over Johnson would clinch Carson-Newman its best start since 2018. The Eagles have a winning record in November for the first time since that year. A win would match C-N's 5-1 start from that season.
Carson-Newman has put up at least 80 points in every game on its fourgame winning streak. Carson-Newman hasn't scored 80 in that many consecutive games since it did so in six straight to start an 11-game win streak that led to a SAC tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth in 2021.
Carson-Newman leads the SAC and is fifth nationally in its ability to get to the free throw line. The Eagles have averaged making 20.8 free throws per game. C-N's 77.2 free throw percentage is second in the SAC.
Bryant Thomas is once again atop the SAC standings for blocked shots. Thomas has posted at least three blocks in three games for C-N. That includes a season-high four in Carson-Newman's contest Saturday against Erskine. He is averaging 2.0 blocks per game and sits on 141 career blocks in his time at Carson-Newman - the school's program record for a career.
This is the first-ever meeting with Johnson University. Formerly Johnson Bible College, the school moved to University status in 2012 and transitioned to the NAIA last season after competing exclusively in the NCCAA previously.
While, the Eagles have never played the Royals, C-N does have a degree of familiarity with the Appalachian Athletic Conference - Johnson's league. Milligan and Tennessee Wesleyan are both members. Carson-Newman is 5-0 against those schools under Chuck Benson, with four of the wins coming against Tennessee Wesleyan.
C-N has played Knoxville adjacent schools, primarily against Knoxville College. C-N has beaten the Bulldogs all 13 times that it played them, with a 30-point, 103-73, win coming under Chuck Benson in 2012, his third year as head coach.
Nick Clifton has been the top star for Johnson. Clifton has tallied a double-double in four games this year, including a 34-point, 10-rebound monster against Columbia International. Clifton has scored in double-digits in all but two games in which he was hampered by foul trouble. Clifton has put up at least 19 points in every game in which he has played significantly, which includes a pair of 20-point efforts.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Royals is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins 15 minutes before tipoff with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video feed is available through FloSports and cneagles.com/flombb.
