JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (10-6, 4-2 South Atlantic Conference) will try to pump the breaks on a four-game losing streak when it heads to Newberry (8-7, 1-4 SAC) for a 4 p.m. cross-divisional game Saturday.
The Eagles have only lost four games in consecutive fashion three times under Chuck Benson (twice in the 2019-20 season and once in Benson's first season in 2010-11).
"We are going to control what we can control, period," head coach Chuck Benson said. "We re-emphasize the things offensively and defensively that we always emphasize and put our attention on that. And that's for a team that has been where this one has been. And we have to process that correctly in our minds. We need to process this adversity the correct way."
Carson-Newman has never lost five straight games since Benson took over as head coach in 2010-11. The Eagles haven't suffered through a five-game skid since February 2010 when the Eagles dropped consecutive games to King, Mars Hill, Lenoir-Rhyne, Tusculum and Brevard from Feb. 3-17.
The difference in wins and losses this season has been pretty plain to see for Carson-Newman. In wins, Carson-Newman is +2.8 in turnover margin. In losses, the Eagles are -7.0. The Eagles have been averaging 13.4 turnovers per game in their wins and 16.2 turnovers per game in their losses.
"We have the right kind of people with the right kind of experience," Benson said. "They've won games, championships and performed consistently together. We've just had a bad patch here for a variety of reasons. We just need to keep things in perspective for what is true about this team and this program at this particular time. I'm still confident that we have lots of positive days ahead."
That has led to a massive discrepancy in points off turnovers. In the Eagles' 10 wins, they are to the good of 78 more points off turnovers per game, or 7.8 points per game. In losses, Carson-Newman has given up 72 more points off turnovers, 12.0 more points per game to their opponents.
Carson-Newman's shooting percentages have also been way off in losses. In wins, the Eagles are shooting a crispy 52.4 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three while averaging 91.5 points per game. In losses, those numbers drop to 42.2 percent from the field, 32.8 percent from three and 68.3 points per game.
Bryant Thomas is the ultimate shot-stopper. Carson-Newman's single-game, single-season and career record-holder for blocks now sits on 163. He has the fourth most blocked shots among active players in NCAA Division II. Thomas leads the league this season with 2.1 rejections per game and is top 10 in the country in blocks per game in that regard.
Luke Brenegan is officially on 1,000-point watch. The senior guard sits on 991 points, nine away from a grand. Brenegan should become the 40th man in Carson-Newman men's basketball history with 1,000 career points.
Chuck Benson has been responsible for coaching a quarter of that list (nine). Included are Antoine Davis (1,526 - 12th), Ish Sanders (1,922 - 6th), Carson Brooks (1,248 - 29th), Sawyer Williams (1,559 - 11th), Charles Clark (2,339 - 3rd), Mason Bates (1,106 - 33rd), Malik Abraham (1,088 - 34th), Tripp Davis (1,039 - 36th) and EJ Bush (1,006 - 39th).
Newberry is led by Quandaveon McCollum, who averages 16.7 points per game, third best in the SAC.
"He's been doing it for so long," Benson said. "We clearly know we can't let him get going. But it's one thing to stop him once, you have to stop him twice because Newberry is so good on the offensively glass and minimize those types of scoring opportunities."
McCollum is 10th among active players in NCAA Division II with 22 career double-doubles.
Tip between the Eagles and Wolves is set for a 4 p.m. tip. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
