Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Dayton
Trojans Fall to Flyers, 87-70
12/2/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
DAYTON, Ohio - The Troy Trojans played a hard fought game in front of 11,853 people, but just couldn't top Dayton as they fell 87-70 Tuesday night at the University of Dayton Arena.
"Our guys learned a lot and played a good game," Troy coach Don Maestri said. "We didn't play great but we were better than LSU. We missed several wide open three pointers and we cant do that and win."
The Trojans raced out of the gate to claim an early 4-0 lead when Michael Vogler found Tom Jervis underneath the basket for an easy lay-in. Vogler then hit a lay-up of his own for the early lead.
The Flyers tied the game at 4-4 with a steal and lay-up and a jumper just inside the three point line.
The Trojans ran the lead to 12-4 with a trio of three pointers from Vogler, Richard Delk, and Regis Huddleston at the 13:33 mark in the first half.
The Flyers went on a 8-2 run to claim the lead at 18-17 then a questionable call on a dunk attempt gave the Flyers the 20-17 lead. A foul was called on the floor but the officials counted the basket.
Travis lee was fouled on a lay-up attempt and made both free throws to close the gap at 20-19.
The Flyers reclaimed the 24-21 lead on a back door lay-in from Charles but on the ensuing Troy posession, Delk was fouled on a three point shot by Charles Little. Delk only made on of the three attempts to close the gap to 24-22.
Over the next three minutes, the Flyers went on a 8-4 run while Troy missed on four consecutive trips down the floor.
The Trojans down 32-26 and tried to make a late first-half run when Josh Williams found Chris Legget under the basket for an easy lay-in. Hudleston hit a three at the 1:37 mark to close the gap to 35-31.
The Flyers answered back with a three pointer from Mickey Perry and Marcus Johnson hit a long range jumper at the buzzer to give Dayton the 40-31 lead at the half.
"That play at the end of the half hurt us," Maestri said. "It gave them momentum heading into the half."
In the first half the Trojans shot an im pressive 41 percent but was matched by Dayton's 45.7 percent. The Flyers out rebounded Troy 27-12 and had 15 second chance points to the Trojans' two.
The Trojans came out in the second half and went on a 9-3 run. Antywan Jones converted on a lay-up attempt followed by a Jervis' jumper. Huddleston gave Troy brought the score to 41-40 but Luke Fabrizius hit a three for the Flyers and pushed their lead back to three at 44-40.
The Flyers pushed their lead to 10 capped off by a London Warren lay-up and a foul. He converted the three point play for the 55-45 lead.
The Trojans found themselves down 12 with 3:53 left in the game. Mario Telfair was fouled on a rebound and a put back attempt and went to the line with a chance to close the lead. He made 1-of-2 to close the lead to 78-67.
The Flyers would put the game away over the final three minutes. Troy converted on only one of their six trips down the floor.
The Trojans finished up shooting 39 percent from the floor on 25-of-64 shooting. Troy shot only 27 percent from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Dayton shot 54 percent form the floor and 39 percent form behind the arc.
Troy was led by Lee with 10 points while Huddleston chipped in nine. Little led Dayton with a game-high 17. Dayton had four players in double figures.
"This is a great place to play basketball and a great atmosphere," Maestri said. "They played a lot of guys but we had several shots not fall for us. We had a chance late in the game to make a run and have a chance but it just didn't work out for us."
The Trojans will return home for a few day before opening conference play at Middle Tennessee December 11, with tip-off set for 7 pm.
