ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson returned home for a brief one-game homestand, but dropped a 77-60 decision to Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action, Monday night at the Abney Athletic Center.

Anderson slipped to 9-10 overall and 6-9 in conference action with its first setback in three outings, while Carson-Newman (13-6, 10-5 SAC) swept the season series with the Trojans and has won six of its last seven decisions.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior guard Crosby James II led the Trojans with 18 points and seven rebounds, while forward Parker Dortch added 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and pulled down four rebounds. Forward Jalen Hillery notched nine points and handed out three assists, while grabbing four boards. Freshman guard Collin Mills netted seven points and recorded four rebounds, with Josh Livingston also recording four rebounds.

Anderson held a six-point halftime edge, but Carson-Newman opened the second half with an 18-5 run and the Trojans were unable to recover.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Eagles scored the first five points of the contest, but AU quickly answered with a 7-2 run that deadlocked the score at 7-7 with more than 16 minutes on the clock.

Carson-Newman quickly rebuilt another five-point edge (12-7) over the next 80 seconds, with AU countering with a balanced attack that saw the Black and Gold stake a 15-14 advantage behind an 8-2 burst of their own over the next two minutes.

The Eagles rallied again and claimed a five-point lead on three occasions, before the Trojans turned a 29-24 deficit into a 32-29 lead when Mack Burgett sank 1-of-2 free throws with 4:28 on the clock. After C-N tied the score at 32 apiece, Mills and Dortch dropped in back-to-back baskets 90 seconds apart and AU went on to hold a 42-36 halftime edge, with the Trojans going 17-of-34 from the field in the opening 20 minutes

Second Half
But while the Trojans went 1-for-10 and committed four turnovers in the opening eight minutes of the second frame, Carson-Newman shot 58.3 percent on 7-of-12 accuracy, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and opened the half with an 18-5 run.

The Eagles opened a double-digit (61-51) lead midway through the half, with Mills and Livingston burying back-to-back 3-pointers to get the Trojans back within 61-57 at the 8:29 mark. But AU could get no closer and the Eagles led by as many as 19 in the final moments.

ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The 11 free throws attempted by the Trojans were a season-low this season – second only to the 12 they attempted AT Carson-Newman. The seven made free throws by AU equaled the previous season-low (7), which was AT Carson-Newman.

NOTABLES
• Tonight's contest marked Anderson's sixth game in 15 days and third game in six days.
• Carson-Newman holds a 17-9 edge in the overall series.
• AU is 6-7 vs the Eagles at the Abney Athletic Center.
• The Eagles have won 14 of the last 18 meetings.
• Each team pulled down 10 offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Trojans close out the month of January with a two-game South Atlantic Conference road swing, beginning at co-league leading Tusculum, Wednesday night. Tip-off in Greeneville, Tenn., is slated for 7:30 p.m.