ANDERSON, S.C. -- The Anderson men's basketball team was unable
to overcome a huge rebounding disadvantage and dropped its second
straight decision, 85-76, to Limestone in Conference Carolinas
men's basketball action Wednesday night at Timken Gym. The Trojans
(8-3, 2-3 Conference Carolinas) entered the game having won four of
their last five and were looking to bounce back from last
Saturday's setback at Mount Olive. Despite the loss, AU is off to
its best overall start since becoming a four-year institution in
the mid-nineties. Limestone has won three consecutive contests and
improved to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in league action, with its lone
conference setback coming at the hands of league-leading Mount
Olive. "We didn't defend or rebound well enough to win on the road
but were still in the game late," Anderson head coach Jason Taylor
said. "[Limestone] is a very good basketball team." The Trojans
pushed out to a 17-9 lead midway through the opening half with six
different players reaching the scoring column, but the Saints
chipped away and took its first lead of the contest, 22-21, with
7:15 remaining. Limestone held the advantage for the next 23
minutes of action, but saw Anderson rally from a 69-58 deficit with
just under six minutes on the clock and pull even at 70-70 behind
five points from Trey Britton and four from Oskars Ernsteins in
less than two minutes. But Limestone countered by connecting on
6-of-8 free throws in the final 3:08 to hold off the Trojans, who
were able to hit just two of their final seven attempts from the
field. AU committed only five turnovers in the contest and forced
11, but Limestone held a 51-32 advantage on the boards and
outscored the Trojans 20-10 in the paint. Brandon Young scored a
game-high 15 points for Anderson, while running mate Tony Anderson
netted 14. Oskars Ernsteins chipped in 12 points off the bench and
Stephen Cobb tossed in 11 points. Kevis Cornwell pulled down a
game-high six rebounds for the Trojans. Anderson gets back in
action with a brief one-game home stand when St. Andrews invades
the Abney Athletic Center on Saturday. Tip-off versus the Knights
is slated for 4 p.m. in the second contest of a doubleheader. Game
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