Sunday, January 23, 2011

MACON, Ga. - ETSU and Belmont own two of the nine-longest active win streaks in the nation. The two meet for the first time in 2010-11 at 4 p.m. on Sunday in Johnson City on ASun.TV.

Belmont enters off its closest A-Sun contest of the seasn, winning at USC Upstate by a 67-62 score. Despite the five-point win, the Bruins have won their eight A-Sun games by 26.3 points per game. At that pace, no team has won conference games by as wide a margin since 1996-97. Duke's 1998-99 won its 16 ACC games by 24.3 points per game.

ETSU has won nine striaght games following a 4-7 start. The Buccaneers' five starters, Mike Smith, Micah Williams, Isiah Brown, Justin Tubbs and Adam Sollazzo have all averaged double figures in conference play. Sollazzo has increased his scoring in leauge play to 12.0 points per game, up from 4.5 in non-conference play.

The Bucs rely on their starting five to score 62.9 of their 69.7 points per game in league action. Contrast that with Belmont's bench, one of the best in the country. In A-Sun play, the Bruin bench has actually outscored their starters, averaging 43.7 points per game. The starters have put up 39.2 points per night.

Beyond this season, the Buccaneers have Bruins have established themselves as the pre-eminent teams in the conference. Combined they have won the last five General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Championships, with Belmont winning three straigh, from 2006 through 2008. ETSU has claimed the last two tournaments. This season, they have combined for each of the last five Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honorees. Scott Saunders (12/21), Mike Smith (12/28, 1/11), Adam Sollazzo (1/4) and Ian Clark (1/18).

Belmont leads the all-time series, 10-8. Since ETSU joined the conference in 2005, the Bruins own a 10-3 advantage.