VIDEO: C-N v. Limestone Cinematic Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (9-3, 5-2 South Atlantic Conference) completes its season series with one of the most, if not the most chaotic teams in the South Atlantic Conference when it heads to Salisbury to take on Catawba (6-4, 4-3 SAC) Saturday at 4 p.m. inside Goodman Gym.
Catawba downed C-N 86-76 in the first meeting this season back on Nov. 23 in a game in which the Indians forced 18 turnovers, outscored C-N 28-5 in points off turnovers, grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and took 30 more shots than the Eagles.
Catawba is the number one offensive rebounding team in the SAC. The Indians have collected 15 offensive boards in all but two of their 10 games. Catawba is third in the SAC in both overall rebounding and rebounding margin.
Carson-Newman is looking to halt a three-game losing streak to Catawba. The Eagles are averaging 19.67 turnovers per game against the Indians on the swoon. Catawba has outscored the Eagles 81-30 in points off turnovers in that stretch (27-10 per game). Carson-Newman had won four straight in the series prior to this recent skid, during that four-game win streak, the Eagles averaged 14.25 turnovers per game with a high of 17.
Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.) will try to keep his hot hand cooking. The reigning NABC National Player of the Week is the first Carson-Newman player this century to score 30 points in three consecutive games. His 99 points in that stretch are the second-highest three-game swing for an Eagle. Only Charles Clark and his 110 points (buoyed by his legendary 54-point triple-double against Coker in February 2017) exceeded Browder's last three. In the stretch, Browder is 33-of-47 (70.2 percent) from the field and 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from three. Additionally, Browder has made a career-best 23 consecutive free throws, including 20 straight from the last three games.
C-N has made double-digit threes in nine consecutive games. A pair of 8-for-23 days in Boone against King and Lees-McRae are the only two games this season C-N didn't hit 10+ threes.
Carson-Newman has added two members to its 1,000-point club this season in Nick Brenegan and John Zhao. Jack Browder stands poised to become the club's 43rd member. He needs 19 points to make it to a grand in three seasons on the banks of Mossy Creek. In a bizarre bit of happenstance, Catawba guard Kris Robinson needs eight points to become the Catawba Indians 57th, 1000-point scorer.
Chuck Benson has coached 12 members of Carson-Newman's 1,000-point club. Zhao was the last guy to join, strangely enough doing so back on Nov. 23 against Catawba.
Both Brenegan and Zhao can move up the all-time scoring list. Brenegan is eight points away from 1,100 for his career. He needs 14 points to catch Mason Bates for 34th all-time. His older brother and assistant coach Luke Brenegan sits in 33rd with 1,115 points, Brenegan is 23 away from him. Meanwhile, Zhao is 16 points away from 1,100 and four from 36th place, occupied by Malik Abraham and his 1,088 career points. In another bit of happenstance, Zhao got to 1,000 points in the first meeting this season against Catawba.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Indians is slated for 4 p.m. Saturday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
