East Tennessee Tussle on tap Wednesday between Eagles and Pioneers
January 10, 2023

East Tennessee Tussle on tap Wednesday between Eagles and Pioneers

JEFFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (10-5, 4-1 South Atlantic Conference) renews its rivalry with Tusculum (8-5, 4-2 SAC) Wednesday evening inside Holt Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. 

C-N Game Notes

JEFFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (10-5, 4-1 South Atlantic Conference) renews its rivalry with Tusculum (8-5, 4-2 SAC) Wednesday evening inside Holt Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. 

Tusculum is looking for a fourth straight win in the series with Carson-Newman, something that the Pioneers have never pulled off. The last four games have been decided by a combined eight points.

In all four of those contests, Tusculum has overcome a lead of nine or greater (the Eagles rallied in the SAC semis in 2021 to prevail after giving up a 13 point lead). Two of the Pioneers' last three wins against C-N have been the result of overcoming a double-digit deficit, including a 15-point comeback last year in Holt. 

This season's iteration of the Pioneers is helmed by nightly double-double Inady Legiste. Legiste leads the nation in double-doubles with nine. He is the SAC's second-leading scorer (17.2 points per game) and leading boarder (10.2 rebounds per game). He has a quintet of 20-point games and turned in a double-double in eight straight games from Nov. 8 through Dec. 16. 

"We have to collectively as a team that we are aware of him and that we impact his catch, and when he does get the ball," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "We get multiple defenders between him and the basket.  You know with a guy of that quality, he's not going to have goose eggs. We have to make him work hard to get done what he wants to get done."

Carson-Newman will be looking to snap not only a three-game skid in the series, but also on the season. 

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 -7.4. The Eagles have been averaging 13.4 turnovers per game in their wins and 16.8 turnovers per game in their losses.

"We all like to talk about learning lessons," Benson said. "I've found over the years that you say you learned a lesson, but you really didn't. We've been really intentional about helping our guys understand the lessons that we need to learn from these high turnover games and what are the solutions to minimize those turnovers. There are some specific things we can do, but there is some clarity on paper of what we need to do a better job of with the intent of limiting our turnovers moving forward." 

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 64 more points off turnovers, 12.4 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 42.7 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three and 70.2 points per game.

"We have to focus less on offensive efficinciey because they are so good at making people inefficient," Benson said. "Our focus needs to be on the same. With an intense defensive philosophy where we have to make things difficult for them."

Bryant Thomas is the ultimate shot-stopper. Carson-Newman's single-game, single-season and career record-holder for blocks now sits on 161. 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 985 points, 15 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).

Carson-Newman plays another rivalry game Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse against Tusculum.  Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available through FloSports at cneagles.com/flombb.

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