BELMONT, N.C. – For the first time on the road this year the Anderson University (5-4) men's basketball team found themselves on the favorable side of a 86-70 decision over Belmont Abbey on Saturday, December 9.
Senior Garrett Denbow (Ashland, Ohio) knocked down a career-high 14 made field goals on his way to his second highest-point total, leading the team with 34 points. Junior Austin Webb (South Point, Ohio) continued to make his presence known after starting to come alive last game, he was able to record 14 points in the contest. Senior Mack Burgett (Richmond, Va.) led the team with 11 boards while freshman AJ Wright Jr. (Tampa, Fla.) posted a team-high four steals to go with his three assists in the game. As a team the Trojans shot 53% from the floor including a 45% clip from beyond the arc.
In contrast to how the Trojans usually start a contest, they found themselves trailing in the early goings as Belmont Abbey was open up a seven point lead in the first four minutes of action. By the next media timeout that margin would stay consistent as each team was able to 12 points in that stretch of time with Belmont Abbey retaining their seven point advantage at 24-17.
Anderson rallied over the next four minutes of action however as they were able to close the gap to just one at 27-26 with the momentum solidly in the Trojans hands. Two made free throws by sophomore Cole Middleton (Atlanta, Ga.) just a minute later gave Anderson their first lead of the contest and they were able to increase it to two at the next media. That lead again increased over the final minutes of the opening stanza as they Trojans were able to take the five-point lead into the half at 46-41.
The second half was a different story all together as the Trojans were able to outscore the Crusaders by 11 points in the frame and put the contest out of reach early in the second frame, bringing their lead above 10 in the first four minutes of the second half. The stretch continued for the Trojans as they were able to close out the contest with a 16 point advantage at 86-70.
The Trojans return back to South Atlantic Conference Play on Wednesday, December 13 as they travel to Salisbury, N.C. to take on Catawba in a 7:30 p.m. showdown.
