Troy University Athletics
Cold Shooting Limits Troy in 66-61 Loss to Weber State
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- A combination of cold shooting and tough Weber State defense limited to Troy to a season-low point total in a 66-61 loss to the Wildcats in the semifinals of the Top of the World Classic Saturday afternoon at the Carlson Center.
The Trojans shot just 35.4 percent from the field, hitting 23 of 65 shot attempts. More importantly, Troy was just seven of 26 from three-point range, including a dismal one of 11 (9.1 percent) in the second half.
Sammy Sharp and O'Darien Bassett each tallied 15 points, while Jerome Odem added 12, all on three-pointers. Sharp grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds to earn his second career (first in 2006-07) double-double. Arturas Velieka led the Wildcats with 15 points and 12 boards.
Troy (2-2) fell behind in the first four minutes, 5-2, but quickly rattled off nine straight points to open its biggest lead of the contest, 11-5 with 14:30 left in the period. But Weber State (3-0) answered back with nine of its own. to retake a three-point advantage, 14-11.
Troy later broke a 23-23 with five straight points, two free throws by Richard Chaney and a three by Odem, to lead 28-23 with 4:57 to play. But Weber State scored seven straight, then hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the half to head to locker room up three, 33-30.
The second half started out all Wildcats as they opened on a 17-6 run for its biggest advantage of the contest, 50-36, with 11:48 remaining. Troy closed to within five, 56-51 with 5:21 left, after Cedric Jackson and Bassett hit back-to-back jumpers, but Weber State scored seven of the next 10 points to forge back ahead by nine, 63-54, with 2:48 to play.
Troy had one final flurry in the final minute when Chaney converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 23.9 seconds remaining to make the score 65-61. After a defensive stop, Odem had a three-pointer that would have cut the deficit to one rattle down and out."Without us hitting the three-point shot, it is tough," Head Coach Don Maestri said. "I think they did a good job defensively; they were very intense. But we missed some open shots as well."
The Trojans have one final contest in Alaska, tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 AST (3:30 CST) against the loser of tonight's Utah State-Drake contest. The winner of that contest will earn third place at the eight-team event, while the loser finishes fifth.
