July 2, 2009

C-N Announces 2009-10 Men's Basketball Schedule

July 2, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Carson-Newman men's basketball team will match up with four participants from last season's NCAA Tournament as a part of its 2009-10 schedule, head coach Dale Clayton announced Tuesday.

The Eagles, which are coming off a 7-21 campaign, will travel to Johnson City, Tenn., on Nov. 9 to take on Division I NCAA Tournament participant East Tennessee State in their only exhibition game before beginning regular season play.

C-N opens the season on the road on Nov. 16 against Alabama-Huntsville in Huntsville, Ala. and will host the Chargers on Nov. 23 for its home opener.

The Eagles will then host two Peach Belt Conference opponents in North Georgia (Nov. 27) and Georgia College (Nov. 28) in the Carson-Newman Classic at Holt Fieldhouse. North Georgia defeated C-N last season 104-95, while Georgia College, which went 22-7 in 2008-09 and received a berth to the NCAA Tournament, slipped past the Eagles 89-83.

C-N opens South Atlantic Conference play at Lincoln Memorial on Dec. 5 and will play Newberry in Jefferson City on Jan. 2 for its conference home opener.

The Eagles will travel to Greeneville, Tenn., on Jan. 16 for the first of two matchups with rival Tusculum. The Pioneers will play in Jefferson City on Feb. 13. Tusculum, which was runner-up in the SAC Tournament last season and received a berth to the NCAA Tournament, swept C-N in 2008-09.

C-N will travel to Lenoir-Rhyne for a key SAC matchup on Jan. 23 and will host the Bears on Feb. 10. Lenoir-Rhyne is coming off an 18-11 season in which it earned an NCAA Tournament berth.

The Eagles will face defending SAC Tournament champion and NCAA Tournament participant Catawba in Jefferson City on Jan. 27 and at Salisbury, N.C., on Feb. 24.

C-N closes out regular season play on Feb. 27 at Wingate, with the SAC Tournament beginning on March 3.