Troy University Athletics
Trojans Suffer Worst Loss in Two Years, 98-57, at North Texas
2/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
DENTON, Texas - North Texas dominated every phase of the game against Troy Thursday night, handing the Trojans their worse in more than two years, 98-57, at the Super Pit. Troy's last 40-point loss was a 110-63 setback at Southwest Missouri State on Dec. 11, 2004.
Troy (9-14, 4-8) had only two players reach double figures - O'Darien Bassett and Justin Jonus with 10 points each. Meanwhile, every Mean Green player hit the scoring column, led by Calvin Watson and Kendrick Davis with 19 points apiece. North Texas (15-7, 6-5) shot 57.4 percent for the game and held a 52-31 advantage on the boards.
Two first-half runs by UNT proved to be the deciding factor. The Mean Green tallied five in a row to extend a 23-21 lead to 28-21 with 7:52 to play. Two minutes later, after Troy closed back to within five at 31-26, it scored seven straight to put the lead to hit double figures for the first time, 38-26 at the 3:51 mark.
Troy shot just 21.9 percent in the opening period, its third-worst half of the season. The Trojans hit just seven of 32 field-goal attempts, including five of 15 from three-point range. Three starters - Sammy Sharp, Richard Chaney and Boo Ramsey - failed to convert from the field during the period.
The margin reached 20 for the first time during a 15-5 run over the first five minutes of the second half. A 37-point difference, 84-47, after a Watson three with 5:34 left, was the biggest of the season, while the final margin was the largest of the game. The Mean Green hit two-thirds of its shots after intermission.
That fact that we didn't shoot the ball well was the disturbing part tonight,” Head Coach Don Maestri said. (North Texas) gave us more open looks at the start than any other team all season. What we had to do was start off well in the second half and we just didn't. We played a lot of players late and that is when the score got out of control.
The key now is to have to come back and be ready on Saturday. Shooting tells a big story and we will have to shoot the ball well to win.”
Troy faces a quick turnaround as it returns home to face Florida Atlantic Saturday night at 7:30.
