ANDERSON, S.C. – Sophomore guard Jacksen Greco's traditional three-point play with just 45 seconds remaining gave Anderson the lead and the Trojans made their home-opener a success by defeating Conference Carolinas-foe Belmont Abbey, 81-78, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
"That was a big-time college basketball atmosphere out there tonight," said Anderson head coach Jimmie Williams. "We found a way down the stretch to get the stops we needed. Our guys competed. I could see it in their eyes in timeouts. They gave everything they had and it was just enough. Celebrating with the team after the game is something I'll never forget. To God be the glory! Thankful for so many friends and family that came a long way for our home opener. My Dad flew in from Kansas City. He coached me in everything growing up and has always been my hero. He gave the pregame speech to the team, and he was my first hug after the horn went off tonight. Special moment. Our team is getting better and growing closer. We are still putting in the groundwork of our identity but tonight was a huge step in the right direction. Excited to play in front of another packed house at Abney, Tuesday. Go Trojans!"
Anderson (1-3) snapped an early-season three-game skid and improved to 13-4 in home-opening contests over the past 17 seasons, while Belmont Abbey (0-4)
suffered its fourth consecutive setback.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior guard Garrett Denbow netted a game-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting accuracy from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. The Ashland, Ohio native also recorded four rebounds, handed out two assists and swiped a pair of steals. Greco finished the night with 16 points on 7-of-15 accuracy from the field and grabbed five rebounds. Sophomore guard Myles Jenkins added 13 points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
Despite late foul trouble, freshman guard Luke Denbow tallied 12 points on four 3-pointers and shared game-high honors with a season-high six assists. He also swiped a pair of steals. Junior forward Mack Burgett scored seven points and handed out a career-high six assists in the win.
Senior forward Charles Solomon led five Crusaders in double figures with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while teammate Wade Jackson added 14 points. Senior guard Mario Lacy, Jr. and Mason Taylor chipped in 13 and 11, respectively, with sophomore guard KJ Garrett scoring 10 for Belmont Abbey.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
With Jackson, who poured in 12 first-half points, and Taylor scoring 10 of Belmont Abbeys first 13 points in the opening three minutes, the Crusaders jumped out to their biggest lead of the game, at 13-5, with more than 17 minutes left in the first half.
But the Trojans kept Belmont Abbey within sight and closed within just 15-14 on Edo Buffo's jumper in the paint less than six minutes later. Belmont Abbey responded with an 8-1 run over the next two minutes, and quickly rebuilt their lead to eight. With The Crusaders holding a 26-18 edge, Mason Carver sparked a 7-0 run by the Trojans by draining a deep 3-pointer. Burgett added 1-2 from the free throw line and Garrett Denbow capped the run with a 3-pointer.
AU battled back within one two more times, but was unable to catch the Crusaders until Buffo sank a 3-pointer off a Belmont Abbey turnover, knotting the score at 34-34, with a little more than three minutes left in the half. But BAC regained the lead and held a narrow 40-39 lead at halftime.
Second Half
The Trojans, who shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, connected on four more treys than the Crusaders over the final 20 minutes.
There were eight ties and 11 lead changes in the second stanza, with neither team able to gain more than a six-point lead.
Trailing, 64-63, midway through the second-half, Garrett Denbow scored eight of the Trojans next 10 points to fuel a 10-3 run that gave AU a 73-67 lead, with just 6:25 on the clock. With the Trojans clinging to a 75-71 advantage, Belmont Abbey went on a 7-2 run to claim a brief 78-77 lead at the 2:04 mark and setting up Greco's late-game heroics.
After the teams traded missed shots, Greco drove into the lane and drew the foul as the ball fell through the basket. After missing two free throws earlier, the Canton, Ga., native nailed the ensuing free throw to give the Trojans an 80-78 edge and Jenkins connected on 1-of-2 from the line with 26 seconds left to boost AU to a three-point lead.
Following a Belmont Abbey timeout, the Crusaders got one final look, but Taylors' game-tying 3-point attempt with 11 seconds remaining was off the mark and the Trojans grabbed the rebound to secure the win
ANDERSON STAT(S) OF THE DAY
The Trojans committed a season-low 12 turnovers and dished out a season-high 15 assists.
NOTABLES
• The game featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties.
• The Trojans shot a season-high 49.2 percent from the field.
• AU shot a season-low 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the charity stripe.
• Myles Jenkins has reached double-figure scoring in all four games.
• The Trojans have connected on double-digit 3-pointers in three straight games.
• The Trojans have dished out double-figure assists in three consecutive games.
• AU has committed double-figure turnovers in four straight games.
• Luke Denbow has reached double-figure scoring in three straight games.
• Garrett Denbow has reached double-figure scoring in two straight games.
• Belmont Abbey won the battle of the boards, 36-32.
• The Crusaders became the third opponent this season to shoot better than 50 percent against the Trojans.
• AU improved to 13-4 in home openers over the last 17 seasons and has won its last six home-opening contests,
• The Trojans and Crusaders have met 29 times, but only twice since the 2009-10 campaign.
• Belmont Abbey holds a 17-12 advantage in the overall series that began during the 1998-99 season.
• AU is 11-4 versus the Crusaders at the Abney Athletic Center,
• The Trojans have won seven of the last 11 meetings with Belmont Abbey, including five of the last six.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will close out their brief two-game homestand by welcoming Johnson C. Smith to the Abney Athletic Center, Tuesday night. Tipoff vs. the Golden Bulls is slated for 7 p.m.
