ANDERSON, S.C. -- On the heels of a very successful 2008-09 campaign that saw the team earn the second-most wins since Anderson became D-II in the early nineties, head men's basketball coach Jason Taylor has released the Trojans' 2009-10 schedule. "This is a very challenging schedule," said Taylor. "Our focus is to get better every day and we really want to be prepared for that first game. We are playing some very strong competition and will take it one game at a time." The Trojans, who exhibited an explosive offense that averaged more than 80 points a contest and ranked 33rd in the NCAA, play 14 contests in the friendly confines of the Abney Center as they look to build on the landmark season they enjoyed last year. Anderson opens the regular season on the road at North Greenville on Nov. 17. Head coach Chad Lister brought in nine newcomers as the Crusaders are looking to bounce back from a sub-par 11-17 mark last season. The Trojans then open a season-high five- game homestand by welcoming first-year head coach Jeff Burkhamer and his Lander Bearcats to the Abney Center (Nov. 21). AU opens Conference Carolinas' play two days before Thanksgiving when Belmont Abbey invades the Abney Center. Last season saw the Abbey post its first 20-win season in six seasons and a 15-5 mark in league action as the Crusaders earned a No. three seed in last year's conference tournament. On Dec. 2, the Trojans play host to South Atlantic Conference opponent Mars Hill, which went 17-11 and advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 SAC Conference Tournament before falling, 107-103, in overtime to second-seeded Newberry. Queens visits AU on Dec. 5, while Peach Belt-foe UNC Pembroke wraps up the homestand one week later. The Trojans open a five-game road swing by traveling to the Peach State and North Georgia (Dec. 15), then visit Columbus State three days later. NGCSU notched a 15-12 record last season, while the Cougars were 8-19. Following a two-week break for finals, AU celebrates the New Year by jumping back into its 20-game double-round-robin conference schedule as the Trojans square off against Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, N.C. on Jan. 4. Anderson visits Mount Olive (Jan. 9) and Limestone (Jan. 13) to close out the road trip. Mount Olive equaled Barton's 17-win conference record last year and earned the league's No. 2 seed in the conference tournament where it was upset by seventh-seeded Erskine. Anderson returns home to face St. Andrews (Jan. 16) then makes the trip to Coker on the road (Jan. 18). Longtime rival Erskine opens a two-game homestand with a visit to the Abney Center on Jan. 21 and Barton, the defending regular-season and conference tournament champion, visits AU two days later. Anderson goes to Pfeiffer to close out the first half of the league slate.