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Tusculum falls to Anderson, 55-51 in defensive battle

Tusculum falls to Anderson, 55-51 in defensive battle
Box score

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Trey Britton recorded a dozen points, including a critical jumper with 25.4 seconds remaining to lead the Anderson University men's basketball team to a 55-51 South Atlantic Conference win over host Tusculum College Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena.

The Trojans (11-6, 5-2 SAC) shot 51.2 percent in the game, including 11-of-19 (57.9%) in the second half as well three baskets in a row in the final two minutes of the contest.

Britton finished the night shooting 6-of-8 from the field and tallied a pair of blocked shots, including one on a TC lay-up with 14 seconds remaining to preserve the AU victory.

Tusculum's Rob Troutman accounted for a game-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while Dionte Grey and Tommy Klempin added 10 points each as the Pioneers (7-10, 4-3 SAC) have their three-game winning streak snapped.

AU's Brandon Young tallied 11 points, including a pair three pointers and three assists.

The first half saw eight lead changes and three ties as neither team led by more than four points in the opening 20 minutes as Anderson carried a 23-22 lead into the locker room.

In the second period, the Trojans jumped out to a 34-28 advantage following a three-point play by Nick Trull and a three-pointer from Tyrell McDowell. TC cut the deficit in half with a Ryan Slusher trey, but AU followed with a dunk by Britton and two free throws from Denzail Jones as the Trojans led 38-31 with 9:05 remaining.

TC responded with a 5-0 spurt that included a basket by Klempin and a Troutman three-pointer as the Pioneers trailed 38-36 with 7:12 left on the clock.

Anderson answered with a 11-5 spurt, thanks to six markers by Young as he converted a three-point play and later knocked down a 29-foot three-pointer with the shot clock expiring to take its largest lead of the night at 49-41 with 3:15 remaining.

The Pioneers wouldn't go away as they closed the gap with an 8-2 that included free throws by Grey and Kevin Vest, and a three-pointer by Troutman with 1:30 left to cut the deficit to 51-49.

Anderson converted on the ensuing possession with a driving lay-up by Taylor Shugart with 1:11 remaining. TC got points on its next trip down the floor as Klempin drew a foul and converted his two free throws to bring TC back to within a pair (53-51) with 51 seconds left.

Britton canned the game-clinching jumper from 16-feet away as the basketball hit the front of the rim, bounced off the backboard and went through the hoop to provide the final margin.

Tusculum shot 38.1 percent from the floor for its first sub-par contest since its last loss.

Both teams lit it up from the free throw line as Anderson went a perfect 8-of-8 on the night, while Tusculum fired 12-of-14 for 85.7 percent, including 4-of-4 nights by Klempin and Vest. Justin Steigerwald was held to a two points, but led all players with seven rebounds and five assists in his third straight 40-minute outing.

Tusculum continues its four-game home-stand on Saturday as they host Mars Hill College for a 4 p.m. contest at Pioneer Arena. It will be "Pack the Gym" Day as all fans will be admitted free.

- TC -

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