HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Anderson men's basketball team opened the New Year with an 87-54 setback to league-leading and nationally sixth-ranked Lincoln Memorial in South Atlantic Conference action, Wednesday night at Tex Turner Arena.
Anderson slipped to 4-10 overall and 2-4 in the conference with its second straight loss, while Lincoln Memorial (13-1, 7-0 SAC) remained undefeated in conference action and won its 16th consecutive home contest.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior forward Jeremy Bouton led the Trojans with 13 points, including nine in the first half, and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Gage Ellis netted 11 points, while sophomore guard Christian Jeffords and freshman Josh Livingston each added eight points apiece. Senior center Lester Rochez recorded a season-high seven rebounds – all in the first half. Senior guard Maurice Howard dished out a team-high five assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Lincoln Memorial opened the contest red-hot, as the Railsplitters connected on their first four field goal attempts, including three 3-pointers, en route to scoring the first 15 points of the contest and did not miss a field goal attempt until nearly four minutes had elapsed.
Bouton got the Trojans on the scoreboard with an off-balance jumper at the 16:58 mark and following another basket by LMU, the junior from Orlando, Fla., connected on the Trojans' first 3-pointer of the contest to trim the deficit to 17-5. But the Railsplitters countered with a 10-2 run to claim a 27-7 advantage with 11:59 on the clock.
Sophomore guard Christian Jeffords knocked down a pair of free throws at the 7:04 mark to get AU within 29-13, but it was as close as the Trojans would get the rest of the game, as LMU held a 45-21 halftime advantage on the strength of 17-of-28 shooting from the field.
Second Half
AU was unable to chip away at Lincoln Memorial's lead, as the Railsplitters extended their advantage to 39 points late in the contest.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
AU, which leads the SAC in free throw accuracy, was 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) from the line.
NOTES
• AU forced 15 Lincoln Memorial turnovers.
• The Trojans have connected on at least five 3-pointers in every game this season, including 36 treys in the last four contests.
• Gage Ellis has reached double-figure scoring in five straight games.
• The Railsplitters won the rebounding battle, 46-28.
UP NEXT
The Trojans return to the friendly confines of the Abney Athletic Center for a two-game conference homestand beginning with Wingate on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
Saturday's doubleheader is designated Military Appreciation Day, with veterans and active service members, along with their families admitted free of charge. Each branch of the military will be recognized between games.
