VIDEO: C-N v. Lenoir-Rhyne Highlights
VIDEO: C-N v. Anderson Cinematic Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the fifth time this season, Carson-Newman (15-7, 10-6 South Atlantic Conference) will challenge a nationally-ranked foe when it heads to Hickory to take on No. 16/18 Lenoir-Rhyne (17-3, 14-2 SAC) from Shuford Arena at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Carson-Newman is angling for a season sweep of the Bears after a wild 105-101 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in Holt Fieldhouse back on Nov. 16.
Lenoir-Rhyne is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Bears are off to their best start as a member of NCAA Division II and are winners of five straight. The five-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the South Atlantic Conference and the second longest in the Southeast Region behind Columbus State's six-game spurt. The Bears are unbeaten at home under Brent Owen (8-0) and have won nine straight home games. The nine-game home winning streak is the 13th-longest active win streak in the country and the second longest in the SAC behind Lincoln Memorial's 19-game streak.
The Bears have held all five of their foes on their five-game win streak below 80 points.
This is Carson-Newman's fifth game this season against a nationally-ranked opponent. C-N played six nationally-ranked foes in both the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons. However, what makes this season's slate of nationally-ranked foes unique is that the five games C-N has played have all been against different teams.
Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Brent Owen is the reigning HoopDirt.com National NCAA DII Coach of the Week.
This marks the fifth straight week the Bears have been ranked, which ties the 2007-08 squad for most consecutive weeks ranked in the top-25. That team set the record for highest NCAA ranking in school history at No. 11.
John Zhao is the ninth member of Carson-Newman's 200-three club. Nick Brenegan joined the club earlier this season. Brenegan has 247 career threes, 12 away from Malik Abraham and Charles Clark, who are tied for second with 259 career triples. With 218 career threes, Zhao needs three threes to make it into the top five all-time and knock assistant coach Luke Brenegan's and his 221 threes out of it.
Zhao, Brenegan and Jack Browder are see-sawing around the all-time leading scoring list. Zhao has 1,286 career points Brenegan 1,189 and Browder 1,150. Zhao is oficially in the top 25 all-time in school history in scoring. He needs five points to draw even with Jimmy Kinnick for 23rd all-time. Dustin Edwards and Leon Williams sit in a tie for 21st with 1,311 points, 25 away from Zhao. Zhao is looking to become the 23rd player in school history with 1,300 career points. Brenegan is eight 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.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Bears is set 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 cneagles.com/live.
