ANDERSON, S.C. – Despite five players reaching double-figures in the scoring column for Anderson, visiting South Atlantic Conference-foe Catawba used 55.6 percent shooting accuracy from the field to out-duel the Trojans, 94-90, on Senior Day, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.
"Unfortunately, I did not have the guys ready on the defensive side of the ball," said Anderson head coach Jeff Brookman. "Our late-game execution and free throw shooting were below average, as well. I hate it for the guys because they competed and played hard. In the long run, we will benefit from being in so many close end-of-game situations."
Anderson slipped to 5-10 with its fourth consecutive setback, while Catawba improved to 6-10 with the sweep of the season series.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
On what was probably one of his two final regular-season appearances at the Abney Center, senior Alex Keel scored a career-high 18 points, dished out a career-best six assists and grabbed a season-high six rebounds. The Oviedo, Fla., native was 7-of-11 from the field. Junior Jalen Hillery added 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, with senior forward Josh Livingston tallying 15 points. Sophomore forward Mack Burgett came off the bench to score nine points and grab four rebounds in 11 minutes of action. Guards Kai Rivers and Crosby James II each scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Keel and Hillery knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to fuel a 13-4 surge, as the Trojans overcame an early two-point deficit and claimed a 17-8 lead – their largest of the game - with less than 15 minutes on the clock.
But Catawba began chipping away at AU's lead and used a 23-9 run over the next six minutes to turn the nine-point deficit into a 31-26 advantage at the 8:31 mark. Behind seven points from Burgett, the Trojans stayed within striking distance before the Indians pushed out to a nine-point lead (45-36) of their own with more than three minutes left in the half. Two minutes later, Catawba still owned the nine-point lead before Keel scored the final four points of the half to get the Trojans within 50-47 at the break.
Heading into halftime, the Trojans were shooting 51.6 percent from the field, but Catawba was even hotter – at 59.4 percent.
Second Half
With the score deadlocked at 57-57 with less than 16 minutes on the clock, the Indians reeled off 10 unanswered points over the next three minutes, but no sooner had Catawba opened the double-digit cushion than Rivers and James combined to fuel a 12-2 run and less than two minutes later the score was knotted at 69 apiece.
Following two more ties, Catawba's Marcus Burwell hit 1-of-2 from the line to give the visitors a 76-75 edge before Hillery scored AU's next eight points, as the Trojans built an 83-76 lead with 6:23 on the clock. Jason Edwards added 1-of-2 from the line 22 seconds later and AU had its largest lead of the second half (84-76), but the lead dwindled to just 84-83 moments later.
With the normally accurate Trojans struggling from the charity stripe by connecting on 4-of-8 free throws over the next two minutes, Catawba claimed a late 90-88 lead on a 3-pointer by Burwell. AU then misfired on its next three shots, while the Indians did just enough from the line (2-for-4) inside the final 17 seconds to hold off the Trojans before Keel wrapped up the scoring with a layup at the horn.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
AU had five players reach double-figure scoring for the second time this season.
NOTABLES
• The contest featured 10 ties and nine lead changes, including eight of each in the second half.
• Catawba won the battle of the boards, 41-28, and pulled down 14 offensive rebounds.
• AU's field goal shooting (51.7%) marked the Trojans' second-highest of the season.
• Catawba defeated the Trojans, 90-78, in the season opener for each team (Nov. 21).
• Catawba's 55.6% shooting accuracy (35-of-63) marked the highest of an opponent this season.
• AU's average margin of victory/loss in eight of its games this season is 2.8 points.
• Last season, AU swept the season series with the Indians for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
• This year, Catawba swept the regular-season series for the first time since the Trojans joined the South Atlantic Conference for the 2010-11 season.
UP NEXT
Anderson will wrap up its regular-season home schedule when Newberry invades the Abney Center on Monday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., with the Trojans slated to close out the regular season at Mars Hill on Wednesday.
