VIDEO: Limestone game one highlights
VIDEO: Limestone cinematic highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (9-4, 5-3 South Atlantic Conference) concludes the pre-Christmas portion of its league slate with a return trip to the Timken Center to take on Limestone (4-7, 1-6 SAC) with a Wednesday matinee at 4 p.m.
Carson-Newman won the first meeting this season, a mere 11 days ago, 98-89 on the strength of 71 percent shooting after halftime and a combined 57 points from Jack Browder and John Zhao.
Jack Browder has been on another level. 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 is the second-highest three-game swing for an Eagle. Only Charles Clark and his 110 points (bouyed by his legendary 54-point triple-double against Coker in February 2017) exceeded Browder's last three. Over his last four games, Browder is 38-of-56 (67.8 percent) from the field and 14-of-21 (67.67 percent) from three. Additionally, Browder has made 27 of his last 28 free throws. No one has been to the free throw line this season in Division II than Browder.
A 7-of-29 day from beyond the arc at Catawba snapped a string of eight straight games where C-N made double-digit threes. Catawba, and a pair of 8-for-23 days in Boone against King and Lees-McRae are the only three games this season C-N didn't hit 10+ threes. Carson-Newman hasn't made more than seven threes in three all-time visits to the Timken Center.
Carson-Newman has added to 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 one point to make it to a grand in three seasons on the banks of Mossy Creek.
Chuck Benson has coached 12 members of Carson-Newman's 1,000-point club. Zhao was the last guy to join, doing so back on Nov. 23 against Catawba.
Both Brenegan and Zhao can move up the all-time scoring list. Brenegan is five points away from 1,100 for his career. He needs 11 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 20 away from him. Meanwhile, Zhao is four points away from 1,100.
Carson-Newman is trying for a sweep of Limestone. The Eagles have never swept the Saints since Limestone joined the league. Limestone swept last season's series. Carson-Newman does have a three-game win streak over the Saints, but it came from 2015-2020, two non-conference games while the Saints were still members of Conference Carolinas into the Saints' first game as a member of the SAC.
When Carson-Newman and Limestone met a mere 11 days ago, both Sirr Hughes and Trevon Payton reset their career highs for scoring against C-N. Hughes went for 29, while Payton had 28 points. The duo was a combined 20-of-31 from the field and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Saints is slated for 4 p.m. 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 cneagle.com/live.
