VIDEO: 2024 Mars Hill Full Broadcast Replay
VIDEO: 2024 Mars Hill Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (13-7, 8-6 South Atlantic Conference) makes the jaunt through the mountains of Western North Carolina for its first meeting of the season with Mars Hill (6-10, 4-10 SAC) Wednesday evening at 7:30 from Burt Stanford Arena.
Mars Hill started out the year 4-0 and was receiving votes in the NABC Coaches Poll before suffering through a nine-game losing streak. The Lions hopped off that skid and have won two of their last three games.
The Lions do as good a job as anyone of getting to the line. MarsHill averages 23.8 free throws per game, a figure that ranks 28th nationally and third in the SAC.
While the Lions are 12th in the SAC in three-point percentage this season, MHU bombed in 18-of-29 threes in the last meeting between the two teams, a 109-99 win for C-N in Holt Fieldhouse. The 18 threes made were the second-most allowed by a Chuck Benson-coached team. The Lions have made double-digit threes in three games this season, topping out at an 11-of-25 effort (44 percent) in an 81-77 win over Anderson on Nov. 23.
Trey Hubbard handed out 13 assists, part of a 32-assist day for C-N, in the Eagles last win over the Lions.
John Zhao is the ninth member of Carson-Newman's 200-three club. Nick Brenegan joined the club earlier this season. Brenegan has 242 career threes, 17 away from Malik Abraham and Charles Clark, who are tied for second with 259 career triples. With 214 career threes, Zhao needs seven threes to make it into the top five all-time and knock assistant coach Luke Brenegan's and his 212 threes out of it.
Zhao, Brenegan and Jack Browder are see-sawing around the all-time leading scoring list. Zhao has 1,235 career points Brenegan 1,169 and Browder 1,133. Zhao is oficially in the top 30 all-time in school history in scoring. He needs 13 more points to catch Carson Brooks for 29th (1,248 points). Brenegan is 28 back of Jim Shuler in 31st with 1,197. Finally, Browder has moved past assistant coach Luke Brenegan and is 33rd all-time in scoring. He is chasing down Brenegan and Shuler.
Carson-Newman led the nation last season in three-point percentage. After going 14-of-26 from deep against Newberry, C-N has once more taken over the top spot in the country. The Eagles have been exceptionally strong from beyond the arc in the New Year. Carson-Newman has connected on 53.4 percent of its threes in its first four January games. C-N is averaging 13.75 makes per game from beyond the arc. With the exception of an 8-for-23 day from deep against LMU, C-N has connected on at minimum 14 threes a game in 2025, including a school-record 19 for a road game at Coker. That streak came to a half when C-N suffered through its worst shooting night from deep in three years with a 5-for-25 effort from range against Wingate.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Lions is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
