Troy University Athletics
Overtime Buzzer-Beater Ends Troy's Season in Sun Belt Quarterfinals, 62-59
3/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Ross Mouton hit a three-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Louisiana-Lafayette to a 62-59 victory over Troy Sunday night in the quarterfinals of the Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Bobby Dixon led the Trojans with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Cedric Jackson added 12 boards and five rebounds, while Sammy Sharp tallied 10 points and five boards. UL-Lafayette had three players in double figures, led by Chris Cameron with 15 points. Michael Southall posted a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Mouton finished with 14 points.http://troytrojans.com/schooltoolz/index.php?s=1141622611-196622271&change_well_id=4&change_id=1249
A three-pointer by Jackson with 1.6 seconds left in regulation forced the extra session, the third in the last two meetings between the schools. The shot to make the score 57-57, was the Trojans' only three-pointer in the second half after they made five in the opening frame.
Dixon hit a pair of free throws 22 seconds into overtime to start the scoring, but Ed Turner retied the game at 59 at the 3:21 mark. From then on, the teams combined to miss nine field-goal attempts and have three turnovers before the final heroics. Troy's last chance to take the lead - a Jackson jumper in the lane with 13 seconds left - was partially deflected in the lane and then rebounded by Southall.
Troy's shooting streak from its Friday game did not extend into the opening period on Sunday night as they shot just 32.2 percent (10 of 31) overall and just 26.3 percent (five of 19) from beyond the arc. Dixon kept the Trojans close with 14 of his points before intermission, but he hit just one of six from three-point range.
Troy led 11-4 in the early going before ULL charged back to within one, 13-12, with 10:43 remaining in the first half. The Trojans responded with a 10-1 run to open a 10-point advantage at 23-13. However, Louisiana-Lafayette answered with 13 straight points in the next 3:57 to claim a three-point lead. Dixon tied the score at 28 on a conventional three-point play around a media timeout at 3:27, but the Ragin' Cajuns ended the period with the last six points to lead 34-28 at the break.
Troy started the second half on an 8-0 run to open a four-point advantage, 38-34 with 17:49 remaining, but ULL tallied six straight. From then on, the biggest lead was five by the Ragin' Cajuns with 3:27 remaining, when they managed back-to-back baskets after a one-point lead. Cameron hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to stretch a 55-54 lead to 57-54 before Jackson forced the overtime.
I thought the game was hard-fought and they just came out on top,” said head coach Don Maestri. They did a good job defensively and we helped them out by missing some shots.”
With the loss, Troy finished its first season in the Sun Belt with a 14-15 overall record. Unanimously picked last in the West Division, the Trojans posted a 6-9 mark in league play and won their opening game in the Sun Belt Tournament.
