Troy University Athletics
Trojans Sink Arkansas State at Charity Stripe
1/19/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
JONESBORO, Ark. - The Troy University Trojans used key free throws down the stretch and a trio of players in double figures to pull away from Arkansas State University 89-80 in front of 3,590 at the Convocation Center Saturday night.
“We shot the ball tonight,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “Obviously down the stretch, the free throw shooting was fabulous. When you make that many free throws in a row in the last three minutes of the game, you are able to keep pressure on the other team. When a team can shot the ball like they do, if you are up by seven and they come down and hit a three it is all of a sudden a four-point game.
“Then they foul you and you miss that free throw, they come down and hit another three and all of a sudden it is a one-point ball game just like that. We have played like that the last few games.”
Troy tried to pull away from Arkansas State with under six minutes to play, taking a nine point advantage at 74-65. However, the Indians trimmed into that lead, trimming it to 74-70 with under three minutes to play.
From there, the Trojans took over and pulled away for the victory.
Troy's O'Darien Bassett began a drive to the basket with 14 seconds left on the shot clock and just two minutes remaining on the clock when Maestri called a timeout. The call paid dividends as Bassett took the ball and ran the final 14 seconds off the shot clock, drilling a three-pointer and giving the Trojans a 78-71 lead.
He then connected on seven consecutive free throws down the stretch, while Justin Jonus and Michael Vogler connected on a pair each to seal the victory.
“I realize how important and pressurized those free throws really are,” Maestri said. “You may think two minutes is a long time, but I am telling you a couple of missed free throws and a couple of three's they would have hit and it is a one-point basketball game. So hitting those free throws down the stretch was obviously the key to us winning the game.”
The two teams traded the lead throughout the first half, with the Trojans gaining the upper hand with an 8-0 run to close the half and take a 40-34 advantage. Trailing 32-30, the Trojans used a three-pointer by Trayce Macon to take a 33-32 lead with 2:41 remaining in the half. They extended the lead when Macon connected on a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor, pushing the lead to 36-32.
The lead expanded to six when Michael Vogler connected on a lay-up with 1:33 remaining, and the final basket was scored by Jarvis Acker on an assist from Vogler.
However, Arkansas State (8-10, 3-5 Sun Belt) made a charge in the second half when Ryan Wedel and Adrian Banks connected on four of their first five three-pointers of the second half to trim the lead to one at 53-52 with 14:18 remaining in the half.
The Trojans shot 43.5 (27-of-62) percent from the floor and 38.7 (12-of-31) percent from behind the arc. They also connected on 95.8 percent of their free throws. Meanwhile, Arkansas State shot 43.5 (28-of-61) percent of their shots from the floor and 41.4 (12-of-29) percent of their shots from behind the arc. They also shot 80 (12-of-15) percent from the free throw line.
Troy (9-9, 2-5 Sun Belt) was paced by Jonus with 30 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Bassett added 24, while Macon added 16 points and seven rebounds. Bassett and Jonus connected on each of their 10 free throws in the victory. Jonus connected on three of his first four three-point attempts in the first half, en route to a 13-point first half.
Banks and Wedel scored 18 each for Arkansas State, pacing five players in double figures. Mike Lance added 14 off the bench, while Yima Chia-Kur scored 14 and Kewain Grant chipped in 12.
“We felt fortunate to win the game,” Maestri said. “Arkansas State was not at full strength for the game. Banks got injured against Denver and another starter was injured at shoot around today. So we weren't playing their best basketball team, but with that we had to play one of our better shooting days as far as basketball.”
Troy returns to action Thursday, January 24 against Arkansas-Little Rock at Trojan Arena. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. in Troy.
“We shot the ball tonight,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “Obviously down the stretch, the free throw shooting was fabulous. When you make that many free throws in a row in the last three minutes of the game, you are able to keep pressure on the other team. When a team can shot the ball like they do, if you are up by seven and they come down and hit a three it is all of a sudden a four-point game.
“Then they foul you and you miss that free throw, they come down and hit another three and all of a sudden it is a one-point ball game just like that. We have played like that the last few games.”
Troy tried to pull away from Arkansas State with under six minutes to play, taking a nine point advantage at 74-65. However, the Indians trimmed into that lead, trimming it to 74-70 with under three minutes to play.
From there, the Trojans took over and pulled away for the victory.
Troy's O'Darien Bassett began a drive to the basket with 14 seconds left on the shot clock and just two minutes remaining on the clock when Maestri called a timeout. The call paid dividends as Bassett took the ball and ran the final 14 seconds off the shot clock, drilling a three-pointer and giving the Trojans a 78-71 lead.
He then connected on seven consecutive free throws down the stretch, while Justin Jonus and Michael Vogler connected on a pair each to seal the victory.
“I realize how important and pressurized those free throws really are,” Maestri said. “You may think two minutes is a long time, but I am telling you a couple of missed free throws and a couple of three's they would have hit and it is a one-point basketball game. So hitting those free throws down the stretch was obviously the key to us winning the game.”
The two teams traded the lead throughout the first half, with the Trojans gaining the upper hand with an 8-0 run to close the half and take a 40-34 advantage. Trailing 32-30, the Trojans used a three-pointer by Trayce Macon to take a 33-32 lead with 2:41 remaining in the half. They extended the lead when Macon connected on a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor, pushing the lead to 36-32.
The lead expanded to six when Michael Vogler connected on a lay-up with 1:33 remaining, and the final basket was scored by Jarvis Acker on an assist from Vogler.
However, Arkansas State (8-10, 3-5 Sun Belt) made a charge in the second half when Ryan Wedel and Adrian Banks connected on four of their first five three-pointers of the second half to trim the lead to one at 53-52 with 14:18 remaining in the half.
The Trojans shot 43.5 (27-of-62) percent from the floor and 38.7 (12-of-31) percent from behind the arc. They also connected on 95.8 percent of their free throws. Meanwhile, Arkansas State shot 43.5 (28-of-61) percent of their shots from the floor and 41.4 (12-of-29) percent of their shots from behind the arc. They also shot 80 (12-of-15) percent from the free throw line.
Troy (9-9, 2-5 Sun Belt) was paced by Jonus with 30 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Bassett added 24, while Macon added 16 points and seven rebounds. Bassett and Jonus connected on each of their 10 free throws in the victory. Jonus connected on three of his first four three-point attempts in the first half, en route to a 13-point first half.
Banks and Wedel scored 18 each for Arkansas State, pacing five players in double figures. Mike Lance added 14 off the bench, while Yima Chia-Kur scored 14 and Kewain Grant chipped in 12.
“We felt fortunate to win the game,” Maestri said. “Arkansas State was not at full strength for the game. Banks got injured against Denver and another starter was injured at shoot around today. So we weren't playing their best basketball team, but with that we had to play one of our better shooting days as far as basketball.”
Troy returns to action Thursday, January 24 against Arkansas-Little Rock at Trojan Arena. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. in Troy.
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