Troy University Athletics
Dixon Keys Pair of Second-Half Rallies as Troy Tops New Orleans, 62-58
2/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
Official Game Statistics
Troy vs. New Orleans Game Notes
TROY, Ala. -- Bobby Dixon keyed a pair of second-half runs and hit two key free throws with 14.9 seconds remaining as Troy snapped a four-game losing streak with a 62-58 victory over New Orleans Thursday night at Trojan Arena. Dixon finished with 28 points to lead the Trojans (11-11, 4-6).
Cedric Jackson was the only other player in double figures for Troy, scoring 15 points and grabbing six rebounds. Dixon added a team-high eight rebounds, six assists and three steals to his statistical tally. Jeremie Davis led UNO (7-15, 4-7) with 21 points, while James Parlow chipped in 11. Shawn Malloy grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
The second half featured three big runs by the teams. Down 39-26 with 13:41 remaining, Troy rattled off 12 straight points in a three-and-a-half-minute span to close to within one at 39-38 with 9:28 remaining. After a Davis free throw made it a two-point game, Dixon hit a three to give the Trojans their first lead of the game, 41-40 with 8:53 left.
UNO responded with an 11-0 run to go back up by double figures, 51-41 with 6:56 to play. Davis started and ended the run with three-pointers.
Josh Williams' only basket of the game, a three-pointer that cut the deficit back to seven, then Troy answered a single UNO free throw with five staight points to trail by just three at 55-52 with 4:08 remaining.
UNO hit two free throws just five seconds later, but those would be the Privateers' last points until the game was decided. Troy scored eight straight points on a pair of Dixon three-pointers and a Jackson jumper over the next three-plus minutes to go up three, 60-57 with 77 seconds remaining.
UNO hit one of two free throws with 16 seconds remaining before Dixon sealed the contest with his clutch shots at the charity stripe.
"We could have easily lost it when they went back up by 10," said head coach Don Maestri. "We realized during the second comeback that it wasn't just a comeback, but a ballgame. I didn't see UNO get any second chances down the stretch."
For the sixth straight game, Troy started the game slowly. The Trojans allowed the Privateers to score the first five points of the game and later trailed 18-8 after Jeremie Davis went on a personal 8-0 run over a 56-second span. Troy trailed 23-15 with 10:28 remaining after a Boo Ramsey fastbreak layup, but did not score a field goal rest of the period. New Orleans countered with an 11-2 run to open a 34-17 lead at the break.
The Trojans converted just 21.7 percent in the period, extended their shooting slump to 29.5 percent over the last six opening periods. The Privateers didn't take full advantage, hitting just 41.4 percent and committing 10 turnovers during that span.
Troy continues its homestand Saturday with a 7 p.m. contest against Louisiana-Lafayette.
