Troy University Athletics
Troy University
LaGrange College
Trojans Get First Win in Final Home Opener at Sartain Hall
11/13/2011 6:20:00 PM | Basketball (M)
Troy broke the 100-point barrier for the first time since 2010, as juniors Alan Jones and Justin Wright provided a spark off the bench in a 116-63 win over LaGrange
Box Score
The Troy Trojans men's basketball team used Sunday afternoon's game against the LaGrange Panthers to show the home crowd it's new style of full-court pressure defense for the first time this regular season as the Trojans forced 29 turnovers off 18 steals and would shoot 44% from the field, en route to a 116-63 win.
The win against LaGrange marked the 50th and final home opener at Sartain Hall, as the Trojans will move into the brand new Trojan Arena in the fall of 2012.
"It was a good game for us, as we saw our shooters get back on track," head coach Don Maestri said after his 486th as the Trojans' head coach.
Troy's 68 rebounds set a Division-I record for the most in a single game, as the Trojans broke a record that was established in 2009.
Alan Jones led the Troy (1-1) on the afternoon with 23 points, Justin Wright added 18 points, and Ray Chambers recorded his first double-double of his career with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Troy had six scorers in doubles figures for the first time since Western Michigan in 2010. Chambers, R.J. Scott, and Emil Jones recorded double-figures in rebounds, for the first time since Troy played Mississippi State on the road in 2010.
Every Trojan that saw action on the court would score against the Panthers, in what would be the most points scored by a Troy team since the Trojans knocked off the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2009.
TROY 116, LaGRANGE 63
In the first half, Troy immediately pressured the Panthers with the full court press. Sophomore Daronte Clark scored six of the Trojans first ten points and the Trojan defense pressed LaGrange into three turnovers in it's own backcourt.
Junior Will Weathers would get quick steal from LaGrange's Denzel Robinson and dish it to Daronte Clark who buried a quick three to start off the scoring barrage from the Trojans in the first half. On the next inbounds, Weathers would gather a loose ball and kick it to senior Tim Owens who laid it in for quick two points.
Alan Jones made an impact quickly off the bench has he knocked down three three-pointers in his first four shots of the game to extend the Troy lead to 21-13 with 12:59 left in the half.
The Trojans would continue to pressure the Panthers and would force nine turnover in the first ten minutes of play Sunday afternoon.
Troy recorded 33 rebounds, 16 on the offensive glass in the first half, along with 14 assists, and seven steals.
Off the bench, Jones posted 17 of his 23 points in the first half and Wright added 13 points to give Troy a 58-31 lead at the midway point.
In the second half, Troy would outscore the Panthers, 58-32, as well as grabbing 34 rebounds, in what was a dominant day on the glass.
"We went after the ball." Maestri said. "That's how we'll have to do it. We'll have to play twice as hard to compete in our league."
Against LaGrange, Troy had six players in double-figures for the first time since 2010, as the Trojans scored 50 points in both halfs.
After shooting 18-for-32 from the free throw line against Texas Tech, the Trojans would go 17-for-21 (81%) from the charity stripe, as Wright was a perfect 8-for-8 on the afternoon.
The Trojans would gather 18 steals, 26 assists and create 29 turnovers for the second-straight game.
Troy will take to the road for it's next three games. The Trojans first game of the three-game roadtrip will be in Johnson City, Tennessee as they take on East Tennessee State University at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19.
