Trojans Whip West Alabama

Monday, November 5

TROY

7:00 PM

Troy University

112

University of West Alabama (Exhibition)

11/5/2007 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)

TROY, Ala.- Senior Justin Jonus looked to be in mid-season form again West Alabama Monday night at Trojan Arena in an Exhibition game as the Trojans beat the Tigers 112-76. Jonus led all scorers with 25 points.

“I felt good tonight,” Jonus said. “Once I got loose, I felt really good. I felt like we played good and everyone contributed. We play better when the other team is tired and I think we wore them down tonight.”

Jonus wasted very little time getting the Trojans on the board with a three-pointer only three seconds into the game. After a steal and a three-point basket from senior Jerome Odem, Jonus again made his presence felt with his second trey in the first minute of the game.

At the 4:35 mark, the Trojans had a 41-34 lead and quickly extended it to 54-36 with a three from Odem and a layup from Jonus. Sophomore Benard Toombs capped off the 13-6 run with a monster slam at the 1:39 mark carrying the Trojans into the locker room with the 54-40 lead.

Kevin Johnson led West Alabama in the first half with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

“I was pleased with our performance tonight,” head coach Don Maestri said. “We are not ready for Friday night yet but we still have some time to prepare.”

In the first half, the Trojans were 10-of-25 from three-point land and shot 42.9 percent from the field while the Tigers were 13-of-31 and 4-of-11 from behind the arc.

O'Darien Bassett finished the first half with eight points with Odem adding seven.

Troy came out in the second half just as it did to start the game. The Trojans went on a 13-6 run to open the half thanks to the help of Jonus and Bassett. Bassett scored five of the first seven points opening the half with Toombs delivering another dunk, extending the Trojan lead to 65-46.

The Trojans opened up a 101-70 lead with three minutes left in the game. Troy outscored the Tigers 58-36 in the second half.

Jonus led all scorers with 25 points with Bassett adding 20. Toombs added10 points in the win. Johnson led the Tigers with 22.

Troy shot 48 percent from the field in the second half and 46 percent for the game. Despite being out rebounded 48 to 41, the Trojans forced 31 turnovers while only giving away 10.

The Trojans will open their season on the road against Alabama Friday night. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

“Alabama is a top 25 team and they will be very good,” Maestri said. “We saw signs tonight that we could possibly have a good team.”