ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson men's basketball team erased nearly all of a 16-point second-half deficit, but visiting Wingate did just enough in the waning seconds of the contest to hold on for a 76-69 win over the Trojans, in South Atlantic Conference play Wednesday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson slipped to 5-8 overall and 5-8 in league action with its second consecutive setback, while Wingate (9-6, 9-6 SAC) improved to 6-3 on the road this season with its third win in four outings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Guard Crosby James II led all scorers with 25 points, including 10 inside the game's first seven minutes. The sophomore from Columbia, S.C., was 10-of-17 from the field on the night. Junior guard Kai Rivers added 14 points and nearly had a double-double after pulling down nine rebounds. Guard Joseph Staton and sophomore forward Mack Burgett each netted 11 points apiece. Senior forward Josh Livingston grabbed nine rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
With James providing the firepower in the opening minutes, the Trojans pushed out to a 15-10 lead on a steal and dunk by the 6-foot guard with 13:12 on the clock. However, the five-point advantage would prove to be AU's largest of the night, as Wingate rattled off an 18-5 run over the next seven minutes to stake a 28-20 lead.
The Trojans still trailed by six (31-25) when James knocked down one of his three treys on the night, but the Bulldogs edged out to their largest lead of the opening half, at 38-25, with less than four minutes until halftime. Rivers cut the Wingate lead to 10 with a 3-pointer from deep on the left side, but WU still held a 41-31 lead at the break.
Second Half
Behind Staton and Livingston early in the frame, AU sliced Wingate's lead to just 47-43 when James nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing. But the visitors used a 17-5 outburst to build a seemingly safe 64-48 advantage midway through the half.
Less than five minutes later, Mack Burgett, Keel and James dropped in back-to-back-to-back driving layups to pull the Trojans within single digits, at 68-60. The Bulldogs answered by pushing back out to a 10-point lead with 3:48 remaining before AU mounted its final run.
Keel connected on a jumper, then Burgett added four straight to get the Black and Gold within 72-68 with less than two minutes on the clock. The Trojan defense forced a turnover but AU was unable to capitalize and the two teams traded a turnover and a missed shot before Keel made 1-of-2 from the free throw line with 38.7 seconds remaining to pull AU within 72-69.
Wingate missed a contested layup on its next possession, but the Bulldogs' Rashaard Pringle grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled on his put-back attempt. The redshirt senior then connected on his only two free throws of the night to give Wingate a 74-69 lead and some breathing room with 8.7 on the clock. AU missed a 3pointer on the other end and Wingate's Kendrick Tucker sank a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds on the clock to finish out the scoring.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans shot a season-low 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the free throw line.
NOTABLES
• The Trojans have made at least five 3-pointers in every game this season.
• Wingate won the battle of the boards, 40-39.
• AU handed out 10 assists, with the Bulldogs dishing out nine.
• The Trojans and Bulldogs have met 28 times since the 2001-02 season, with Wingate holding an 19-9 edge in the all-time series.
• The Trojans have played four games in seven days and are in the midst of playing eight games in a 14-day span.
UP NEXT
Anderson will be back on the hardwood in less than 24 hours, as the Trojans and Bulldogs are slated for a rematch in the Tar Heel State, Thursday. Tip-off at Cuddy Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m.
