Troy University Athletics
Trojans Take on FAU Thursday
12/17/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. - The Troy men's basketball team will look to halt a three-game losing streak Thursday night when they hit the floor to take on Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt Conference home opener at Trojan Arena.
Troy (3-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) is coming off an 81-53 loss to Middle Tennessee one week ago, but will begin a stretch of three games in five days - with two of those games being at home. The Trojans will face FAU tonight, UAB on the road Saturday afternoon and UNC-Wilimington at home on Monday night.
"It was a week for us to get a chance to work on everything we do,” Troy coach Don Maestri said. “We know we were playing an exceptional team (Middle Tennessee) picked to win the conference, but when the game was over, we were disappointed.
“It wasn't like we were overwhelmed by them. We just didn't perform.”
The Trojans are 15-6 all-time against Florida Atlantic, but have dropped the last two meetings against the Owls who come in off a loss to the University of Denver in the conference opener.
Troy is led by Richard Delk, averaging 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, through the first nine games of the season. The Trojans have four other players averaging over eight points per contest on a team that is averaging over 75 per game. Brandon Hazzard is averaging 9.9 points, Regis Huddleston 9.7, Travis Lee 8.8 and Tom Jervis 8.7 points per game. Jervis is also grabbing a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game, while point Michael Vogler is averaging a team-high 7.3 assists per game.
“Offensively, we haven't scored as well as we need to, but we're getting some pretty good looks,” Maestri said. “I think when you're not shooting well, you lose some intensity on defense, and the other team gains some confidence on the other end.”
Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic (4-6, 0-1) is led by Paul Graham III with 14.7 points per game. The Owls have three other players averaging in double figures on a team that averages 65 points per game. Carlos Monroe, the Owls' All-Conference performer played his first game of the season against Denver, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds in the loss; he is expected to play against the Trojans Thursday night.
The game can be heard on WTBF-94.7 FM, and any Troy ISP affiliate with Barry McKnight providing the play-by-play action. Tip-off is set for 7 pm at Trojan Arena, with general admission seating free of charge.
