Troy's Strong Defense Isn't Enough

Thursday, January 5

Troy, Ala.

7:30 p.m.

Troy University

Middle Tennessee State University

Photo by: Cass Davis

1/5/2012 10:12:00 PM | Basketball (M)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball team played well defensively, but couldn't keep Middle Tennessee off the offensive glass in a 63-53 defeat at home on Thursday night.

The Blue Raiders entered the contest shooting a Sun Belt best 51.2 percent from the field but were held to 39.1 percent (25-of-64) by the Trojans who typically allow teams to shoot 47.7 percent.

“Defensively, that was the best we've defended Middle Tennessee since we've been in the league,” head coach Don Maestri said. “Our players did a great job in (LaRon) Dendy but just didn't find (Raymond) Cintron on those last couple of baskets.”

However, the difference was Middle Tennessee's inside presence as they out-rebounded Troy, 45-33, including 19-10 on the offensive glass. The Trojans came in averaging 16.2 offensive rebounds per game, the fourth best mark in the nation.

R.J. Scott led the Trojans (5-9, 0-3) with 13 while Daronte Clark scored a career-high 12. Shawn Jones led Middle Tennessee (14-2, 3-0) with 12 off the bench while Raymond Cintron was also in double-digits off the bench with 11, including two three-pointers in the late stages that put the game away.

Troy held the hottest player in the Sun Belt, LaRon Dendy to 2-of-10 from the floor with seven points but the Iowa State transfer had nine rebounds. The Trojans inside defense was led by Tim Owens who recorded six blocks while holding Dendy in check.

The Trojans shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the floor including 32.0 percent (8-of-25) from deep while the Blue Raiders shot just 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from deep.

Troy returns to the floor on Saturday when they travel to take on WKU at E.A. Diddle Arena. The Trojans and Hilltoppers are set to tip-off at 4:00 p.m.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE 63, TROY 53

The Trojans struggled offensively in the early stages. The two sides were tied at 8-8 at the 15:29 mark but Middle Tennessee went on an 8-0 run as the Trojans went scoreless for over five minutes. Ray Chambers hit 1-of-2 free throws for Troy to end the drought, but the Blue Raiders were up 16-9.

Troy was in the bonus at the 9:19 mark as Alan Jones hit a freebie to get the Trojans within six at 16-10. The Trojans didn't hit another field goal until the 8:56 mark when Steven Cunningham got the bucket to cut the lead down to four at 16-12.

The Trojans got hot in the latter stages of the half as a quick 7-2 run over 1:30 cut a Middle Tennessee nine-point lead to four at 25-21 with 4:20 to go in the half. However, with the score at 27-24, Middle Tennessee went on a quick run of their, this one a 7-0 spurt that put the Blue Raiders up 34-24, their biggest lead of the half as they went into halftime with a 36-27 lead.

Troy, who was shooting 25.0 percent from the field with 7:31 to go in the first half, finished the frame at 38.5 percent (10-of-26) while Middle Tennessee shot 42.9 percent (15-of-35). Both sides struggled from deep as Troy shot just 26.7 percent (4-of-15) in the first while Middle Tennessee hit just 22.2 percent (2-of-9).

The second half started much the same as the first with both sides going cold from the offensive end. The Trojans found themselves in a 46-35 hole before a 7-0 run got them within four at 46-42. Alan Jones' first bucket of the game was a three-pointer at the 11:28 mark that put Troy within four.

Troy was within striking distance at 52-46 with 6:52 to go, but Middle Tennessee scored eight straight to take a 14-point lead, their largest, at 60-46 with 5:16 to go.