ANDERSON, S.C. – Forward Josh Livingston led five Trojans in double figures by pouring in 23 points, as the Anderson men's basketball team won its fifth home game of the season by outpacing Limestone, 81-77, in South Atlantic Conference action, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson improved to 5-5 overall and 3-5 in league play with its second straight victory, while Limestone (4-5, 3-4 SAC) lost its third straight game and has dropped four of its last five outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Livingston notched his game-high scoring effort on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%) from the field, including 3-of-6 accuracy from beyond the arc. The Myrtle Beach native was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line and swiped three steals. Guard Crosby James II connected on four 3-pointers and finished the afternoon with 20 points and a game-high, season-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. He also handed out four assists.
Guard Quin Nottingham netted 15 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists for his first double-double of the campaign. Mason Carver came off the bench to score 11 points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from long range, while sinking two free throws. Parker Dortch scored 10 points and recorded three steals on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
In a first half that saw the biggest lead by either team at six points and featured nine 3-pointers in the first 13 made field goals, Limestone grabbed the early lead, and despite knotting the score three times, AU was unable to grab the lead until Livingston and Carver combined to score four unanswered points late in the opening half to give the Trojans a brief, 33-31, edge with eights left.
But Limestone's Ben Gahlert connected on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the saints a 34-33 lead at the break.
Second Half
The lead changed hands five times inside the first eight minutes of the second frame and with the Trojans clinging to a 57-56 lead, Nottingham grabbed a defensive rebound and found James, who dropped in a layup with 8:44 on the clock to spark a 9-1 scoring run and boost the Trojans' lead to nine at the 6:41 mark.
The Saints stayed within three possessions and climbed within 79-77 with a minute left, but James and Nottingham combined to make 2-of-4 free throws inside the final 10 seconds to seal the win.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
Quin Nottingham's 10 assists matched the fifth-highest total in program history and his double-double marked the first points/assists double-double since former standout Shawn Benard scored 14 points and handed out 10 assists against Wingate during the 2019-20 season.
NOTABLES
• AU recorded a season-high 17 assists.
• Five Trojans reached double figures in the scoring column for the second time this season.
• AU forced a season-high 18 turnovers and scored 19 points off turnovers.
• The Trojans nailed a season-high 12 treys.
• AU improved to 5-1 at home this season.
• The Trojans are 113-56 (.669) at the Abney Center over the past 13 seasons.
• AU has won three straight over the Saints for the first time since winning three straight during the 2008 calendar year (2007-08 & 2008-09 seasons).
• Limestone narrowly won the rebounding battle, 32-31.
• The Saints own a 20-16 advantage in the overall series, which dates back to the 1996-97 season.
• Two Trojans posted double-doubles for the second time this season – and the first time since the Lander game.
UP NEXT
The Trojans are scheduled to open a three-game road swing - the second three-game road swing of three this season – Wednesday at Lenoir-Rhyne. Tip-off vs. the Bears at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium is slated for 7:30 p.m.
