ANDERSON, S.C. – Powered by four players in double-digit scoring, No. 8 seed Anderson erased a 10-point halftime to rally past ninth-seeded Coker, 71-61, in the first-round of the 2021 SAC Pilot Flying J Basketball Championship, Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.

"It was the tale of two halves tonight," said Anderson head coach Jeff Brookman. "In the first half we let our offense dictate our defense and unfortunately we didn't make a lot of shots. We were locked in defensively in the second half, and that energized our offense a little bit. It feels good to get a first-round win. There is no time to enjoy it as we get one day to prepare for round two."

Anderson improved to 7-11 on the season and advances to the quarterfinals, where they will square off against top-seeded Queens on Monday. Coker saw its season come to a close with a 4-12 mark with its 10th consecutive setback.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior guard Quin Nottingham came off the bench to lead a balanced offensive attack with 14 points in just 17 minutes of action, while going 4-of-6 from the field. Sophomore guard Crosby James II added 13 points, while sophomore forward Mack Burgett netted 11 points off the bench, while going a perfect 5-of-5 from the field. Junior Jalen Hillery posted 10 points, with forward Josh Livingston nearly recording his second double-double of the season with nine points and a season-high 11 boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
With both teams starting slowly, the Trojans eased out to a 9-7 lead on a free throw by senior guard Alex Keel with 14:21 on the clock, but Coker went on a 15-1 scoring outburst over the next six minutes to claim a double-digit, 22-10, advantage with just less than nine minutes remaining in the half.

The Cobras pushed out to a 14-point lead before taking a 35-25 halftime lead.

Second Half
The Trojans scored the first seven points of the second half, as part of a 16-7 surge that saw AU rally back within 42-41 with 13:18 on the clock – and take their first lead since the 14:21 mark of the first half on Hillery's steal and lay-up.

With Keel sparking the run with five straight points and Burgett fueling it with seven more points, AU used a 15-6 run to push out to a 58-48 lead with 8:06 left in the game and held at least a six-point margin the rest of the way.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE GAME
The Trojans trailed by as many as 14 points late in the first half, before opening the second half on a 23-8 scoring run.

NOTABLES
• Anderson is making its fifth straight appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament and its ninth overall appearance since joining the conference for the 2010-11 campaign.
• The lead changed hands five times, including four times in the first half.
• Coker won the rebounding battle, 34-32, with each team pulling down six offensive boards.
• The Trojans are now 6-8 in their nine appearances in the postseason SAC Tournament.
• AU holds a 23-16 edge in the overall series with Coker.
• The Trojans advance to the second round of the tournament for the first time since 2014.
• The Trojans earned their fifth straight win over the Cobras and their seventh win in 10 meetings.
• AU improved to 15-7 vs. Coker at the Abney Center.

UP NEXT
The Trojans advance to the SAC Tournament Quarterfinals and will square off against top-seeded Queens on Monday. Tip-off in Charlotte, N.C., is scheduled for 7 p.m. AU and Queens met twice during the regular season, with the Royals winning in overtime at the Levine Center and defeating the Trojans a week later at the Abney Center.