SALISBURY, N.C. – Despite a game-high 22 points from senior guard Quin Nottingham, the Anderson University men's basketball team was unable to offset six Catawba players in double figures, as the Trojans dropped their season-opener, 90-78, Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym.
"It was good to get out there and compete against someone other than ourselves for the first time," said Anderson head coach Jeff Brookman. "We need to continue to work and improve in a lot of different areas on both sides of the ball. There is no time to hang our heads. We move forward and get ready for a home game on Tuesday."
Catawba (1-0, 1-0 SAC) snapped a two-game skid at the hands of the Trojans, who were opening their conference slate against the Indians for the first time since joining the league ten years ago.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Nottingham struggled from the field, but garnered his game-high effort on the strength of 92.8 percent (13-of-14) free throw shooting and dished out three assists. Junior guard Kai Rivers nearly posted a double-double in his first regular-season outing in a black and gold uniform, with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Columbia, S.C., native was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Josh Livingston added 10 points and six boards, with newcomer Joseph Staton tallying nine points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Catawba grabbed an early 5-1 lead, but Nottingham fueled a run of eight straight points for AU by netting a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, with Livingston's trey giving AU its first lead of the afternoon at the 17:34 mark. But the Indians countered with eight unanswered points of their own to take a 13-9 advantage.
The Trojans stayed close and back-to-back steals and lay-ups by AU's Jalen Hillery and then Alex Keel gave the Trojans a 20-16 edge – equaling their largest advantage of the afternoon. The score was knotted two more times over the next five minutes before the Indians' Terrence Whitfield connected on a 3-pointer with 4:04 left in the opening half to give Catawba a lead it wouldn't surrender, at 30-27.
The trey ignited an 11-1 surge by the Indians and while the Trojans managed just one field goal inside the final five minutes, they connected on eight free throws during the span to stay within 39-37 at halftime.
Second Half
Catawba steadily built a double-digit lead (56-46) with 14:31 on the clock before Rivers and Staton helped pull the Trojans within four points with less than nine minutes left in the contest. But AU could get no closer than the two possessions, as the Indians widened the margin and led by as many as 16 down the stretch.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans swiped nine steals on the afternoon – AU recorded nine steals in four games last season, while swiping a season-high 10 against Coker last January.
NOTABLES
• The Indians were a preseason pick to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Trojans were tabbed to finish sixth in the SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• AU was 27-of-34 (79.4%) from the free throw line.
• Catawba won the rebounding battle, 45-42, with each team pulling down 13 offensive boards.
• AU slipped to 10-11 in season-openers over the past 21 seasons.
• Each team committed 17 turnovers.
• Saturday's contest marked the first time the Trojans have opened their conference schedule against Catawba.
UP NEXT
Anderson plays host to Newberry in the Trojans' home opener. Tip-off on Tuesday at the Abney Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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