Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, December 4
TROY
7:30 PM
Troy University
83
vs
72
Shorter College
Trojans outlast Shorter
12/4/2007 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. - The Shorter College Hawks may have had the numbers, but they didn't have the speed or endurance with Troy University, as the Trojans pulled away in the second half for a 83-72 non-conference victory at Trojan Arena Tuesday night.
Trailing for much of the first half, the Trojans ran away from Shorter with a 12-3 run midway through the first half. Shorter held a 21-17 lead until Mario TelfairJarvis Acker drained a three-pointer with 12:15 to play. From there the Trojans took their first lead on 24-21 on a Kenny Ware three-pointer, and extended the lead to 26-21 when O'Darien Bassett hit a lay-up with 9:23 remaining in the half.
The Trojans outscored Shorter 19-12 over the final nine minutes to take a 45-33 lead at intermission.
Shorter (6-3) closed the gap to nine five points early in the first half, 49-44, until Josh Williams hit two free throws with 15:21 remaining in the game to extend the lead back to seven at 51-44. The two free throws led to a 14-0 Trojans run that pushed the lead to 63-44 early in the second half. During the run, Williams scored six points while Brandon Hazzard added six to pace the Trojans.
The run enabled Maestri to play more of his players off the bench in the victory, a bench that outscored Shorter 47-12 throughout the contest. The Trojans also took advantage of 22 Shorter turnovers for 26 points on the break.
“We have been able to play 10 kids and that is very positive,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “The five on the bench came in and made a lot of things happen immediately. I hope our guys are learning to trust each other. It's not only five players that will make the difference, it takes all 10. Tonight, our bench was the difference in the game.”
Troy shot 42 (29-of-69) percent from the floor, while hitting 33.3 (11-of-33) percent from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Shorter connected on 39.3 (24-of-61) percent from the floor and 30.6 (11-of-36) percent from behind the arc.
Kedric Wilson led Shorter with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Tomas Pranciliauskas added 19 and A.J. Martin 11 in the loss.
Hazzard, Tom Jervis and Justin Jonus led Troy with 12 points each. Bassett and Michael Vogler added 11 in the victory. The 6-1 Vogler also led the Trojans with six rebounds, four steals and six assists. He also shot 3-of-4 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
“We no longer play for the name on the back of the jersey,” Maestri said. “We play for the name on the front. Winning two games is very important to this team. We are continuing to make improvements.”
Troy returns to action at 7 p.m. Saturday night, hosting in-state rival Alabama State University.
Trailing for much of the first half, the Trojans ran away from Shorter with a 12-3 run midway through the first half. Shorter held a 21-17 lead until Mario TelfairJarvis Acker drained a three-pointer with 12:15 to play. From there the Trojans took their first lead on 24-21 on a Kenny Ware three-pointer, and extended the lead to 26-21 when O'Darien Bassett hit a lay-up with 9:23 remaining in the half.
The Trojans outscored Shorter 19-12 over the final nine minutes to take a 45-33 lead at intermission.
Shorter (6-3) closed the gap to nine five points early in the first half, 49-44, until Josh Williams hit two free throws with 15:21 remaining in the game to extend the lead back to seven at 51-44. The two free throws led to a 14-0 Trojans run that pushed the lead to 63-44 early in the second half. During the run, Williams scored six points while Brandon Hazzard added six to pace the Trojans.
The run enabled Maestri to play more of his players off the bench in the victory, a bench that outscored Shorter 47-12 throughout the contest. The Trojans also took advantage of 22 Shorter turnovers for 26 points on the break.
“We have been able to play 10 kids and that is very positive,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “The five on the bench came in and made a lot of things happen immediately. I hope our guys are learning to trust each other. It's not only five players that will make the difference, it takes all 10. Tonight, our bench was the difference in the game.”
Troy shot 42 (29-of-69) percent from the floor, while hitting 33.3 (11-of-33) percent from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Shorter connected on 39.3 (24-of-61) percent from the floor and 30.6 (11-of-36) percent from behind the arc.
Kedric Wilson led Shorter with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Tomas Pranciliauskas added 19 and A.J. Martin 11 in the loss.
Hazzard, Tom Jervis and Justin Jonus led Troy with 12 points each. Bassett and Michael Vogler added 11 in the victory. The 6-1 Vogler also led the Trojans with six rebounds, four steals and six assists. He also shot 3-of-4 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
“We no longer play for the name on the back of the jersey,” Maestri said. “We play for the name on the front. Winning two games is very important to this team. We are continuing to make improvements.”
Troy returns to action at 7 p.m. Saturday night, hosting in-state rival Alabama State University.
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