Trojans Come Back, Fall in Last Second

Sunday, January 29

Mobile, Ala.

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

University of South Alabama

Photo by: Edward Fieder

1/29/2012 8:02:00 PM | Basketball (M)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball team erased a 20-point halftime deficit, but fell victim to a last second shot in a 68-66 loss at South Alabama on Sunday night.

The Trojans (7-13, 2-7) trailed 47-27 early in the second half, but took a lead at 59-57 with over five minutes to go and seemed poised to complete the comeback as they led 64-63 with less than two minutes to go.

However, with the score tied at 66-66, South Alabama (11-9, 3-6) came up with the last possession and went straight to their top player, Augustine Rubit. Rubit hit a bucket from under the basket with 1.8 seconds left on the clock and Troy was unable to get a desperation heave off at the buzzer.

Emil Jones led Troy with 13 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Four other Trojans were in double-figures as Will Weathers (12), Justin Wright (12), R.J. Scott (11) and Alan Jones (11) all got into double digits.

Rubit led the Jaguars with 18 points and 19 rebounds while Antoine Lundy also had 18 points.

“We played a smart game,” head coach Don Maestri said. “We controlled the game and got back in it. This was just a great college basketball game on both ends.”

The Trojans shot 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from beyond the arc in the second half as South Alabama was 0-of-8 and the Trojans erased a 45-27 halftime deficit that the Jags built mostly at the charity stripe.

In the first half, Troy was called for 13 fouls, including two technical fouls as USA shot 21 free throws and Troy didn't shoot any.

The Jags were 13-of-21 from the line in the first half and shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the floor as they built the 18-point halftime lead.

After turning the ball over a season-high 19 times in their last contest, the Trojans gave it away just seven times, including just three in the second half, on Sunday night as they outscored USA, 22-8, on points off turnovers.

The Trojans return to the court on Thursday when they host FIU in the first of three straight at Sartain Hall. The Trojans and Panthers tip at 7:30 p.m. as Troy Athletics will honor the Fall 2011 3.0 Club at halftime.

For ticket information, call 1-877-878-WINS (9467). For more information on Troy Athletics visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook.

SOUTH ALABAMA 68, TROY 66

After allowing USA the first basket of the second half, the Trojans began chipping away at a 20-point deficit.

The Trojans didn't use a big run to erase the deficit, but rather exceptional defense as they held the Jags to 20.8 percent (5-of-24) over the first 14 minutes of the frame. The Trojans got six blocks over that span as they began to erase the deficit.

Troy's nine blocks overall marked a season-high as Tim Owens and Steven Cunningham led the way with three each.

The Trojans slowly trimmed the deficit and first got it within single-digits at the 13:01 mark with a Weathers 3-pointer that made it 49-42.

Scott hit three straight triples over three minutes with the final putting Troy ahead, 59-57, with 5:40 to, erasing the 20-point deficit.

Troy fell behind by four, 63-59 with 2:46 to go, but pulled even at 66-66 thanks to a Weathers floater with 1:05 to go. Freddie Goldstein missed a 3-pointer with 35 seconds to go but the Jags picked up their 18th offensive rebound as the ball went out of bounds off of a Trojan to set up the final play.

After falling into a 12-5 hole early, the Trojans went on an 8-0 run in just a minute of action to take a 13-12 lead into the first media timeout.

The first half was tight throughout the early stages as Troy held a 27-25 lead with 7:54 to go, but that is when things turned around. The Trojans didn't score for the rest of the half as USA went on a 20-0 run to end the frame.

The story of the half was at the free throw line where USA had 21 attempts thanks to 13 Troy fouls including two technical fouls. In comparison, the Trojans didn't visit the charity stripe as the Jaguars were called for just four fouls.

The Trojans shot just 28.2 percent (11-of-39) in the first half while USA was 14-of-26 (53.8 percent). The Trojans did hit five 3-point shots, but on 19 attempts as they went scoreless over nearly eight minutes to close out the half.