ANDERSON, S.C. – Sophomore guard Crosby James II scored a season-high 25 points and senior forward Josh Livingston posted his fifth career double-double to lift the Anderson men's basketball team to a 67-63 win over Coker in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.

"I am proud of the guys' effort tonight," said Anderson head coach Jeff Brookman. "It feels good to be able to finish off a close game late. We had a couple of really good defensive possessions at the end of the game. There is always room for improvement, but I'm really happy for the guys."

Anderson improved to 2-4 overall and 2-4 in league action, while snapping a three-game skid and earning its fourth straight win over the Cobras. Coker (4-7, 4-7 SAC) dropped its fifth straight decision and is still seeking its first road win of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
James netted his season high on the strength of 10-of-14 shooting on the afternoon, while also pulling down four rebounds. Livingston scored six points and grabbed five boards in each half, while handing out a game-high three assists. Junior guard Kai Rivers added 11 points and five rebounds, with junior Jalen Hillery dropping in 10 points. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Cobras committed a turnover and misfired on back-to-back shots in their first three possessions, but connected on their next four field goal attempts and gained a 9-4 lead less than five minutes into the game. Still trailing, 13-10, three consecutive free throws from Hillery deadlocked the score for the second time, then following a Coker basket, back-to-back treys, first by James from far out on the left wing and then nearly two minutes later junior Satchel Hester knocked down his lone 3-pointer of the contest from deep in the left corner.

Following an offensive foul on the Cobras, James converted an old-fashioned three-point play – the Trojans' fourth straight three-point possession - that capped a 15-4 run by the Black and Gold and gave AU a 22-15 lead with 9:13 on the clock. The Trojan held the advantage for the next six minutes, but the Cobras' regained the lead when junior Chandler Lindsey dropped in two of his 16 points and Coker took a 31-30 halftime lead on the strength of a 13-7 surge.

Second Half
Coming out of the break, the Trojans steadily overcame the deficit and pushed out to a 45-39 lead on a layup by James with just more than 15 minutes left in the contest. Coker closed within just a deuce less than a minute later, but Hillery answered with a jumper and Rivers dropped in back-to-back layups that gave AU its biggest lead of the day, at 52-44.

The Cobras countered with seven unanswered points as part of a 16-6 outburst that saw the visitors claim a 60-58 edge on Anderson Keller's close jumper with less than five minutes on the clock. But the Trojans refused to fold, with James' layup knotting the score for the sixth and final time. Forty seconds later, Livingston pulled down a missed shot and drew a foul while dropping in the put-back to give AU the lead for good, at 63-60.

James accounted for the Trojans' final points with a layup and then sealed the victory with a pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds on the clock.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE DAY
The Trojans' 11 offensive rebounds equaled their second highest total of the season.

NOTABLES
• The largest lead by either team was eight points.
• AU improved to 14-7 all-time versus the Cobras at the Abney Center.
• The Trojans earned their fourth straight win over the Cobras.
• AU won the rebounding battle, 33-23, and pulled down 11 offensive boards.
• The Trojans rank 48th in the nation in game attendance, with an average of 120 fans per game.
• The Trojans have recorded at least five treys in all six games, with a season-high 12 vs. Carson-Newman
• The Trojans have made more free throws than their opponents in five of their six games - Carson-Newman was the exception
• The Trojans have recorded 20 total steals in their last three games.

UP NEXT
After having Monday night's home game vs. Lenoir-Rhyne postponed, the Trojans are slated to visit Carson-Newman on Wednesday. AU is looking to avenge an earlier, 72-66, loss to the Eagles at the Abney Center. Tip-off in Jefferson City, Tenn., is set for 6 p.m.