Eagles Look To Get Back on Winning Track at Newberry
Jan. 2, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. - The Carson-Newman men's basketball team will begin the 2008-09 South Atlantic Conference schedule in earnest Saturday afternoon with a trip to Newberry. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Eagles are currently 4-8 on the year but 1-0 in SAC play. In their last outing, they were defeated by North Georgia 104-95 on New Year's Eve. Newberry is 9-2 overall, but lost their only SAC contest so far this year, to Wingate.
"We're looking forward to getting back into league play," Carson-Newman head coach Dale Clayton said. "We feel like we've played a tough schedule, especially on the road, that has prepared us for our SAC schedule."
The Eagles have been led by transfer Joey Cameron, who is posting 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season.
However, Clayton believes strong guard play will be the key to Carson-Newman's success Saturday.
"I think our backcourt play will be the key," he said. "If we can get consistency from guys like Jordan Dixon, Cameron Sharpe and Adam Plavich, we have a chance to be successful."
Newberry has four players averaging double figures, led by senior forward Martin Clemente with 19.8 points per game.
Carson-Newman boasts the top scoring offense in the conference at 95.4 points per game, however the Eagles rank last in scoring defense. Newberry has the second-best defense in the SAC.
"Newberry is a talented team that will give us some matchup problems," Clayton noted. "We'll see it night in and night out in this conference."
Carson-Newman swept the season series with Newberry in 2007-08.
