ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University Men's Basketball (0-1, 0-0 SAC) mounted an impressive comeback, erasing a 15-point halftime deficit to force overtime against Morehouse College (1-0, 0-0 SIAC), but ultimately fell short in an 82-77 season-opening battle at home Monday night.
The Trojans faced an early uphill battle as Morehouse established a 42-27 lead heading into the halftime break. Anderson struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the opening 20 but continued to challenge the Maroon Tiger's offense, keeping the game within reach heading into the second half.
The Black and Gold shifted the energy coming out of the break with the momentum swinging in Anderson's favor. The Trojans chipped away at the large deficit, capitalizing on offensive opportunities with a 14-3 run in the final four minutes of regulation. Anderson eventually pulled even with the Maroon Tigers to send the contest into overtime.
Neither team lost momentum in overtime, trading scores in a tightly contested final five minutes. Anderson cut the deficit to just a single point and continued to pressure the Maroon Tigers, remaining within a single possession before Morehouse pulled away at the free-throw line to secure the season-opening road victory.
Graduate student
Kory Davis (Gastonia, N.C.) and senior
Cedric Patterson (Charlotte, N.C.) led the Black and Gold's offense, each finishing the night with 19 points. Davis added four rebounds and four assists, while Patterson contributed three rebounds and three assists.
Junior
David Fonville (Ponte Verda Beach, Fla.) also reached double figures on the contest, recording four three-pointers while adding six rebounds and six assists. Freshman
Blake Neill (Bloomfield, Ind.) anchored Anderson's bench, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to record his first career double-double.
Anderson finished the evening posting 77 points, including 30 from its bench, while boasting 83.3 percent from the line to hold an offensive edge over the Maroon Tigers.
The Black and Gold hit the road for the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge hosted by Newberry, where the Trojans will face Erskine on Friday, Nov. 13 at 4:00 p.m. followed by Belmont Abbey on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
