Troy University Athletics
Western Kentucky Holds off Furious Troy Rally, 75-74
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. - O'Darien Bassett's three-point shot from just over halfcourt at the buzzer was waved off after he stepped on the sideline, cancelling out a furious Troy rally as Western Kentucky held off the Trojans 75-74 Saturday night at Trojan Arena.
Sammy Sharp led Troy (11-16, 6-10) with 20 points, while Bassett and Richard Chaney tallied 13 each. Jeremy Evans led four Hilltoppers in double figures with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
The Trojans trailed 10, 69-59 with 4:12 left, and had a chance to tie the game with 4.9 seconds, but Bassett missed the second of two free throws. Earlier, Troy scored five straight points to close to within four, 69-65, on a Boo Ramsey three with 3:06 left and to within two, 75-73, on a Cedric Jackson three with 46.3 seconds to play.
The difference was string of four Western Kentucky three-pointers in a span of 2:13 midway through the second half. Orlando Mendez-Valdez hit on back-to-back possessions, then combined with A.J. Slaughter for threes on back-to-back trips a short time later, turning a 45-45 tie into a 59-52 lead with 7:53 remaining.
You hate to see this for the kids? losing another game in the final seconds,? Head Coach Don Maestri said. The positive thing is that when we got down by 10 points, they made a commitment to win the game. They settled down, made great decisions on offense and play tough defense. We showed a lot of heart tonight.
The loss was the 11th this season by a single-digit margin or in overtime and the fourth decided by a single possession, three points or less.
Troy scored the first five points of the second half to turn a 32-29 margin at intermission into its largest lead of the game 37-29 at the 19:20 mark. But Western Kentucky later used a 6-0 run to even the game at 39.
The Trojans trailed 12-9 just under four minutes into the contest, but used a 12-4 run to open a five-point edge, 21-16, by the 11:36 mark. Western Kentucky evened the game at 21 with five straight points and the teams were later tied at 26 before Troy ended the first period on a run.
A 6-1 run back into the lead and led to a 32-29 advantage at the break. Troy limited the Hilltoppers to 33.3 percent shooting from the field, but was unable to pull further ahead after hitting only one of 10 three-point atttempts.
For the contest, troy shot 43.3 percent, but only 33.3 percent (seven of 21) from behind the arc. The Trojans stayed close on the boards, 40-34, and had four fewer turnovers, only 10 compared to WKU's 14.
Troy plays its final home game of the 2006-2007 regular season on Thursday when it welcomes Middle Tennessee to Trojan Arena. The second game of a doubleheader with the women's team is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.
