JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (5-1) will look to keep the good times of a five-game winning streak rolling when it wraps up a three-game homestand in Holt Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. Friday against Columbus State (3-2).
Carson-Newman has put up at least 80 points in every game on its five-game 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.
To keep that streak alive, it will have to do so against a Columbus State team that ranks 21st in the country in field-goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot a paltry 38.2 percent from the field.
Carson-Newman leads the SAC and ranks 42nd nationally, giving up 39.6 percent shooting.
"I expect it to be a defensive slobberknocker," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "Both teams have shown that they embrace the defensive end, but do it slightly differently. We'll use our zone, no surprise there. Columbus, on the other hand, has a pretty large defensive package. They'll play man, zone, they'll press and trap you. Both are challenging in their own unique ways."
The Eagles have been elite at both going on and defending against scoring runs on its win streak. C-N has not given up an 8-0 run or greater while on its five-game win streak. Conversely, the Eagles have tallied 12 such 8-0 or greater runs, including seven of 10-0 or greater.
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.
Ren Dyer (Weaverville, N.C.) is eighth nationally with his three double-doubles this season.
Bryant Thomas (Charlotte, N.C.) 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 143 career blocks in his time at Carson-Newman - the school's program record for a career. Thomas ranks 19th nationally in blocks per game.
The game features two of the best shot blockers in the country. Nelson Haskin ranks 11th nationally with 2.4 blocks per game. Haskin has a five-block day under his belt, rejecting a quintet of shots against UNC Pembroke in a loss.
"They both have great length, timing and mobility," Benson said. "They are both known commodities and should be fun to watch playing against one another. I'm intrigued though about how a Tyler Bowens, a Ben Beeker and some of our depth fares in these situations against a highly talented player."
Columbus State is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. The Cougars knock down 11.0 triples per game, 11th best nationally and second best in the Peach Belt. The Cougars drilled 18 in a season-opening win against Barton and have knocked down double-digit triples in three games. The 18 threes are the seventh most in a Division II game this season.
Daniel Melvin is one of the top individual three-point marksmen in the country. The senior has connected on 51.4 percent of his threes and ranks 17th nationally.
"They've played five games, and like it is every November, opponents are finding out about each other," Benson said. "It became pretty quickly apparent though who No. 15 (Daniel Melvin) is. You have to limit his clean looks because he is really good."
His 3.8 made threes per game are 14th in the country. Melvin has drilled multiple threes in every game this season, and has sank six against both UNC Pembroke and Mount Olive. Of his 46 shot attempts this season, 37 have been threes - 80.4 percent.
"We must continue to focus on our controllables and our new additions," Benson said. "If we focus less on ourselves, we'll stub our toe. Part of that focus is preparation and what an opponent does. However, it's still way to early in a season for us to take the primary focus off ourselves."
Tipoff between the Eagles and Cougars is set for 6 p.m. Friday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 5:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available for a fee through FloSports at cneagles.com/flombb.
