ANDERSON, S.C. – In their final home competition of the calendar year and their home conference home opener, the Anderson University (5-6, 0-3 SAC) men's basketball team dropped a tough 94-81 decision to the Eagles of Carson-Newman (7-2, 2-1 SAC) on Saturday, December 16.
Junior Austin Webb (South Point, Ohio) led the Trojans in scoring again as he was able to post 18 points on the day to go with his team-leading five rebounds. Senior Mack Burgett (Richmond, Va.) turned in a team high four assists in the game while sophomore Luke Denbow (Ashland, Ohio) used stout defense to tally three steals. Freshman AJ Wright Jr. (Tampa, Fla.) and junior Jacksen Greco (Canton, Ga.) were both able to post double digit points in the game as well.
Both teams were evenly balanced over the opening four minutes of action as each were nearly able to eclipse the double digit mark as a team but it was the Trojans who reached that mark first as they lead 10-9 at the first media. Anderson continued to ramp up their offense over the next four minutes of action as they outscored the Eagles 7-1 over the next stretch to lead 17-10.
That seven point advantage for the Trojans lasted through the next media timeout as well with each team posting nine more points on the scoreboard. However, Carson-Newman was able to claw their way back into the contest over the final stretch, closing the gap to just two points at the final media timeout. A three-point shot by C-N coming out of the timeout gave them their first lead since the early goings of the half and they were able to continue to stretch that advantage out to eight at the break, 42-34.
Anderson started the second half by dropping their Eagles lead down to six by the first media timeout of the second before Carson-Newman started to take a stranglehold on the contest, taking their lead into the double digits at the second media timeout at 67-56. The Trojans got the lead back down in to the single digits multiple times, but each time the Eagles were able to bring that margin back into the double digits. The Trojans battled to get the margin back down to 11 points twice over the final stretch, but the Eagles responded both times and were able to secure their 94-81 win.
Anderson now takes a short holiday break before they make the trip up to Greenville, S.C. on December 30 for an exhibition match up with Furman. The Trojans and Paladins are set for a 2:00 p.m. tip.
