HICKORY, N.C. - Paced by junior Taylor Shugart's season-high 24 points, the Anderson men's basketball team topped Lenoir-Rhyne, 69-61, Wednesday night at Shuford Gymnasium.
Shugart, who posted his previous season-high of 18 points just last Saturday, has reached double-figure scoring in the last four contests and narrowly missed his second consecutive double-double by recording a game-high nine rebounds.
Anderson (14-7, 8-3 SAC) won its third in a row and fourth in its last five contests en route to earning a season-sweep past the Bears after defeating L-R, 87-61, earlier this season. Lenoir-Rhyne (2-17, 1-10 SAC) suffered its 11th consecutive setback.
The opening five minutes featured six lead changes before the Trojans edged out to a 15-7 lead with 12:37 left in the opening half on a jumper by senior Kevis Cornwell.
Lenoir-Rhyne trimmed the AU lead to 19-17 with just less than eight minutes remaining, but the Trojans countered with seven unanswered points as Oskars Ernsteins drained a 3-pointer and Shugart dropped in back-to-back baskets inside the paint, pushing AU's advantage back to 26-17 with 5:12 left in the half.
After claiming its largest lead of the game, 37-24, at intermission, Anderson held the lead throughout the second stanza, holding at least a five-point cushion through the final 20 minutes.
Junior Tyrell McDowell added 12 points for the Trojans, with Trey Britton tallying 10 points and pulling down six rebounds. Senior guard Kevis Cornwell handed out a game-high six assists on the night.
Anderson returns home for a brief one-game homestand on Saturday when Mars Hill invades the Abney Center looking to avenge an earlier nine-point loss to the Trojans. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
