Troy University Athletics
Late Comeback Lifts Trojans to Third Place at Top of the World Classic
11/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Troy scored the final 14 points of the contest Sunday to rally from a nine-point deficit with 3:38 remaining to earn third place at the BP Top of the World Classic, 80-75 over Drake.
O'Darien Bassett scored a team season-best 24 points and Richard Chaney added 20 points to pace the Trojans (3-2). Cedric Jackson (12) and Jerome Odem (11) also topped double figures. Ajay Clavin led the Bulldogs (1-2) with 15 points.
"It's always nice to end a tournament on a winning note," Head coach Don Maestri said. "The tournament was good because we had wins over the Atlantic 10 and the Missouri Valley Conferences. Our come back tonight was simple a matter of not wanting to lose. We made the run happen. "
Troy started off with a blistering half, shooting 55.2 percent before intermission. But an uncharacteristic number of turnovers -- eight of its season-high 17 -- kept the Bulldogs within striking distance and the lead was only four, 42-38 at the break. The Trojans' biggest lead of the game came during the period, 14-4 in the game's first four minutes.
Similar to yesterday when Weber State opened the second half on a 10-2 run, Drake surged ahead early after intermission. After tying the game at 49 three minutes in, the Bulldogs used a 15-6 run to lead 64-55 with 13:43 remaining. Troy rallied to tied the game at 66. Odem hit a three before Chaney added a jumper and two free throws. Cedric Jackson capped the 9-0 run with a pair of free throws.
Drake's Nick Grant hit a pair of free throws before Odem even the game at 66 when the Bulldogs seemed to put the game away. Grant scored six points to key a 9-0 run that put the Bulldogs up 75-66 with 3;38 to play.
But from there, the Trojans took charge. Bassett hit two free throws at 3:24, then Ralph Jennings made a frontcourt steal to set up a Sammy Sharp put-back that made the score 75-70 with 3:18 to play. Chaney stole the inbounds and hit Bassett for a jumper on the baseline that lef the margin only three, 75-72.
The last eight points came on free throws, mostly set up through intense effort. Chaney hit a pair after an offensive rebound to make the score 75-74, then grabbed another offensive board to set up Bassett pair from the charity stripe with 1:42. Those points put Troy ahead 76-75.
Jackson made two tosses at 1:09 to add to the lead, then Odem and Jennings added single throws in the final 36 seconds to seal the victory.
Troy returns home tonight and tomorrow and has a few days off before hosting Southeastern Louisiana Saturday night at 7:30.
