ANDERSON, S.C. – Sophomore guard Jackson Gammons poured in a career-high 23 points, but the Anderson men's basketball team opened its final two-game South Atlantic Conference homestand with an 81-60 loss to Limestone, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson fell to 8-18 overall and 5-11 in league action, while Limestone (12-14, 7-9 SAC) snapped a three-game skid with the victory.
"So thankful for our seniors.," said Anderson head coach Jimmie Williams. "Satchel, JHill and Mason have left their mark on AU, and what a blessing it has been to be their coach this season. All three are going to impact His kingdom in a mighty way. All three are extremely high-character young men. All three have made me better and will celebrated forever on this campus, and in my home. They have always been a part of the solution and have never been a burden."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Gammons netted his career-high effort on the strength of 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 accuracy from the charity stripe. The High Point, N.C., native also corralled three rebounds and recorded a pair of steals. Senior guard Mason Carver added 12 points and pulled down four boards, while junior guard Garrett Denbow chipped in seven points. Forward Jalen Hillery also grabbed four rebounds.
Limestone sophomore forward Greg McKay led all scorers with 25 points, while recording 14 rebounds. Sophomore guard Ayden Hickman added 15 points behind five 3-pointers, with senior guard Zeb Graham also netting 15 points. Teammate Richard Nunez tallied 14 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After McKay dropped in a layup for the first basket of the game, Carver drained a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 3-2 advantage just 48 seconds into the contest, but it proved to be AU's only lead of the afternoon.
Despite connecting on just two of their next seven field goal attempts, the Trojans trailed by only one, at 9-8, with 13:39 on the clock, only to see the saints steadily build a 21-12 advantage on the strength of a 9-2 surge midway through the first half.
The Trojans cut the deficit to two possessions twice, but were unable to get any closer, with Limestone taking a double-digit, 34-24, lead into halftime.
Limestone built a 49-32 cushion less than six minutes into the second half on Hickman's third 3-pointer of the frame and the Saints led by as many as 22 in the final minutes.
"We came up short tonight, but I'm in full belief this group will respond," added Williams. "We have two games left and need them both. Our backs against the wall. We will find our best this week. I love this team."
STAT OF THE DAY
Limestone shot 60.0 percent from the field in the second half.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans recognized three seniors on Saturday – Satchel Hester, Jalen Hillery and Mason Carver.
• With two games remaining in the regular season, the Trojans trail fifth-place Lenoir-Rhyne by ½ game and fourth-place Coker by one game in the battle for one of the four Piedmont Division berths in next month's SAC Tournament.
• Limestone decisively won the battle of the boards, 39-21 and pulled down 12 offensive boards.
• The Trojans will close out the regular season with a pair of games against a pair of Mountain Division rivals (Tusculum and Mars Hill).
• The Trojans have dropped five of their last six outings.
• Anderson and Limestone have met 38 times overall with the Saints holding a 21-17 advantage in a series that began in 1996.
UP NEXT
AU will close out the final two-game SAC homestand of the season by playing host to Tusculum in the Trojans' home finale, Wednesday night at the Abney Center. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
