C-N matches wits with Newberry Saturday
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (8-7, 3-6 South Atlantic Conference) finds itself in an unenviable position.
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25 | 47 | 72 |
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35 | 44 | 79 |
VIDEO: On Press Row
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (8-7, 3-6 South Atlantic Conference) finds itself in an unenviable position.
After a 7-1 start, including a 3-1 mark in league play, C-N has dropped four straight games for just the sixth time in 16 years under head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson.
Carson-Newman will try to put a halt to that skid when Newberry visits Holt Fieldhouse for a 4 p.m. tip Saturday.
A month ago, the Wolves were mired in a similar funk. Newberry had lost five of six games from the start of December through Dec. 19. Since then, the Wolves are 3-1 and coming off back-to-back home wins over Lincoln Memorial and Wingate.
Carson-Newman leads the all-time series between the two clubs 41-25 and has won three straight.
That past is irrelevant compared to 2026 for C-N. Since the calendar flipped, C-N is shooting 36.6 percent from the field, 26.8 percent from three and 88.6 percent from the free throw line.
C-N four game losing streaks came in 2010-11, twice in 2019-20 and twice in 2022-23. C-N has only had two five+ game losing streaks under Benson, a pair of six-game skids in a 1-12 stretch that followed a 10-2 start.
Carson-Newman has a fairly substantial gap between its wins and its losses both offensively and defensively. In wins, Carson-Newman is shooting 49.9 percent from the field, 33.7 percent from three and 71.3 percent at the line while averaging 85.4 points. In losses, the Eagles average 70.4 points while only shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 28.0 percent from three and 85.0 percent at the line. C-N's three-point defense is also significantly different. C-N gives up 25.4 percent shooting from range and 5.8 threes per game in wins, but 37.6 percent shooting and 9.5 threes per game in losses.
Jack Browder enters the contest on 1,717 career points. He is eighth all-time in scoring. The lone player in school history with his jersey retired, Arnold Mellinger is next to catch on the all-time scoring list with 1,826 points. Browder is 109 away from him. Browder is sixth among active NCAA Division II players in career scoring and 27th among all players in all divisions.
With 778 career rebounds, Browder is fourth among active Division II players in career rebounds. Browder, plus Hall of Famers Mike Ogan and Tommy Everette are the only three members of the 1,500/700 club in Carson-Newman history. Browder is the only player in the NCAA era to do that.
Browder is one of three active players in NCAA Division II with 1,700 career points and 700 career rebounds. Carl Cleveland at Young Harris and Dylan Kuehl at Northern Michigan are the only others in NCAA Division II. Browder's 778 rebounds are the fifth-most in school history.
With 34 career double-doubles, Browder already has career mark for Carson-Newman for all-time double-doubles (at least in the NCAA era where we have game-by-game stats). He has the most double-doubles among active NCAA Division II players, tied with Young Harris' Carl Cleveland's 34. He has the eighth-most double-doubles amongst players in all divisions.
Browder is the only player in NCAA Division II to lead his league in scoring and rebounding. Browder and Young Harris' Carl Cleveland are the only players in the country in the top 25 in both scoring and rebounding. Browder is sixth in scoring at 22.9 points per game and seventh in rebounding at 10.7 boards per game.
Tip 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. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloMbb. A live look of press row with Adam Cavalier on mic can be found through YouTube.
Team Stats
Newberry
| Game Statistics | Newberry | Carson-Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (22-58) | (27-50) |
| Field Goal % | 37.9% | 54.0% |
| Rebounds | 36 | 30 |
| Assists | 11 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 15 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 11 | 15 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 16 | 9 |
| Pts in the Paint | 30 | 32 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 9 | 8 |
| Bench Pts | 5 | 8 |
