Second Half Struggles Down Troy at Belmont

Thursday, December 15

Nashville, Tenn.

7:00 p.m.

Troy University

Belmont University

Photo by: Cass Davis

Second Half Struggles Down Troy at Belmont

12/15/2011 9:16:00 PM | Basketball (M)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Trojans went cold in the second half at the Curb Event Center in Nashville against Belmont as they fell to the Bruins, 78-55, on Thursday night. Troy trailed by just seven at the half to one of the better mid-majors in the nation, but got outscored 44-28 in second frame.

The Trojans (4-5) shot just 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from the beyond the arc while the Bruins (7-3) hit 46.7 percent (14-of-30) of their three-point shots. The Trojans shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the floor while the Bruins shot 45.5 percent (30-of-66).

The missed shots by the Trojans led to Bruins out-rebounding Troy, 46-34.

Will Weathers led the Trojans with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor. Alan Jones (15) was the only other Trojan in double figures.

The Trojans return to the floor next Tuesday, December 20, when they host Southern Utah at Sartain Hall. Tip-off in that game is set for 7:00 p.m. Fans with tickets that show the game being scheduled for December 19 will be admitted.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to check back with TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find us on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook.

BELMONT 78, TROY 55

The Bruins took an early lead at 12-5 at the first media timeout, but the Trojans got hot and used two Ray Chamber jump shots and an Alan Jones three-pointer to tie things up at 12-12 with 12:22 to go in the first half. Weathers then put up a jumper that put the Trojans ahead at 14-12 with less than 12:00 minutes to go in the frame.

The Bruins would pull ahead by five at 19-14 as the Trojans would go nearly four minutes without scoring. Belmont would extend the lead to seven by the half at 34-27.

In the opening frame, the Trojans would struggle to find good looks from deep as they took just seven three-point shots and shot just 28.6 percent (2-of-7). The seven attempts were a season-low were one half for the Trojans. Belmont, in comparison shot 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the arc.

The Bruins would extend their lead to 10 at 37-27 with a three-pointer on their first possession. The lead would remain at 10 at the 12:10 mark at 50-40, but that is when the Trojans would go cold and not score for over three minutes.

Weathers would hit two free throws at the 8:49 mark to end of the scoreless draught but the Trojans were down 55-42. The cold streak from the field would continue until the7:00 mark when Emil Jones would hit a jumper to cut the lead to 62-44.

The Trojans would continue to see the Bruins' lead grow as Belmont couldn't miss from deep and hit seven three pointers in the second half before the Trojans made their first at the 3:50 mark. When Alan Jones drained that three-pointer for Troy, the score was 68-51.