Troy University Athletics
Defense Leads Troy to 56-51 Win over Florida International
2/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
MIAMI, Fla. -Troy held Florida International to just two field goals and eight points in the final 13:17 to rally past the Golden Panthers 56-51 in Sun Belt Conference action Thursday night at Pharmed Arena. Cedric Jackson was the only Trojan in double figures, reaching 20 points for the second straight contest.
Troy trailed most of the contest, including 43-37 with 13:17 to play, but relied on its defense to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. Justin Jonus and Jackson connected on consecutive jumpers to start the run, but the Golden Panthers answered with three straight points, all at the free throw line, to go back up 46-41 with 8:29 remaining.
The Trojans took their first lead since 5-4 when Boo Ramsey hit a jumper that made the score 47-46 with 4:03 to play. After FIU regained the lead on a Johwen Villegas basket 17 seconds later, Troy scored five straight points to surge ahead, then hit free throws to preserve the win. Jackson started things off with a three-pointer, then Sammy Sharp added a basket for a 52-48 advantage with 2:01 to play.
Alex Galindo hit one of two free throws with 30.6 seconds remaining to pull FIU back to within three, but Richard Chaney knocked down a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining. Boo Ramsey sealed the win with two free throws with one second remaining.
This was a good win for our kids,? Head Coach Don Maestri said. I thought Sammy and CJ, from the tip to the very end, put their hearts into the game. The seniors once again led this team to a hard-fought win. It was very important to win back-to-back league games.
For us tonight, defense won the game. We played as hard on that end as in any game this season and we didn't give up many second shots after halftime.
The Golden Panthers (9-14, 4-9) shot just 28.0 percent in the second half and just 35.8 percent for the game. Troy hit just 46.7 percent from the field, resulting in the close game. The biggest lead for either team in the opening half was just five points, while the largest margin for the entire game was just a seven-point FIU lead early in the second period.
Troy started the game with a Jackson jumper then saw Chaney answer a Golden Panther basket with the Trojans' only three of the period. From their, though, FIU scored seven straight to lead 9-5 with 16:13 left in the period. Troy tied the game 9-9, 11-11, and 22-22, but each time the Golden Panthers answered. FIU was up four, 30-26, in the final minute of the period, but Jackson pulled the Trojans back to within a deuce at the break, 30-28, when he hit a jumper with 23 seconds left.
Sharp finished with nine points, three rebounds and three blocks for Troy with Chaney adding seven points and eight boards. FIU was led by Villegas with 14 points.
Troy continues its road swing Saturday night when it travels to Little Rock, Ark, to face UALR.
