Trojans Drop WKU at Sartain

Saturday, February 11

Troy, Ala.

1:00 p.m.

Troy University

Western Kentucky University

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

2/11/2012 3:56:00 PM | Basketball (M)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball team picked up its first ever season sweep of WKU on Saturday in the second to last game at Sartain Hall as they dropped the Hilltoppers, 83-77.

The Trojans (8-15, 3-9) used 51.6 percent (16-of-31) shooting in the second half along with 16 second-half points from Alan Jones to rally from an 11-point deficit as they snapped a four-game losing streak.

Jones led Troy with 18 overall while Emil Jones (16), Will Weathers (12), Justin Wright (12) and Tim Owens (10) all posted double-digits. Owens has now scored double figures in two games this season, both against WKU.

T.J. Price led WKU with 17 points while Troy outrebounded the Toppers, 42-39.

WKU actually held a 64-63 lead with 4:30 to go, but Troy got two Alan Jones 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to help build a 71-66 advantage. The Trojans hit nine free throws in the final two minutes to ice the victory.

Troy was 22-of-30 from the line while WKU was just 16-of-27. The Trojans were 7-of-18 from deep but hit 6-of-9 in the second half.

The Trojans return to the floor on Thursday as they travel to take on Arkansas State before hosting UALR next Saturday in the final game at Sartain Hall.

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

TROY 83, WKU 77

WKU extended their nine-point halftime lead to 11 in the early stages of the second at 46-35, but R.J. Scott and Alan Jones hit 3-pointers in back-to-back possessions to cut the lead to five at 46-41 with 15:12 to go.

Jones would continue to get the Trojans back in it as he scored six straight over a two minute span to tie things up at 50-50, including a fastbreak dunk that knotted things up. Jones six straight came in the midst of a 22-5 run that allowed Troy to build a 57-51 lead with 9:24 to go.

WKU went without a field goal for nearly seven minutes as the Trojans stretched the lead to 59-52 with 7:51 to go.

The Toppers would fight back however as they cut it to one at 65-64, but that is when Alan Jones took over again. The junior hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to give Troy a 71-66 lead with 3:03 to go.

Both sides started out on fire, especially the Trojans who made their first six shots and took a 12-11 lead in the early stages. However, Troy would make just one field goal over a three minute stretch midway through the half as WKU built a seven-point lead at 23-16 with 11:00 to go.

Troy would cut it down to as little as three with 4:36 to go after a Tim Owens slam, but that was their last field goal of the half as WKU built a nine-point halftime lead, 39-30.

The Trojans were just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc in the first frame while WKU made 6-of-12, including three from T.J. Price.