Trojans Fall to JU

Monday, December 29

Jacksonville, Fla.

6 p.m.

Troy University

Jacksonville

12/29/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ? The Troy Trojans had a nine-game winning streak over Jacksonville University halted with a 86-73 loss on Monday night at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum.

The streak dated back to Troy's time in the Atlantic Sun Conference, with the series between the two schools beginning in 1957.

The Trojans struggled to keep control of the ball for the entire game, committing a season-high 20 turnovers. JU scored 29 points off turnovers as Troy fell to 5-8 on the season.

“I thought they did a good job. JU was juiced up early. Two of our better players turned it over a bunch. Several of our better three-point shooters struggled and couple those things with their defense and you get our output,” head coach Don Maestri said.

Troy struggled early until Kenny Ware knocked the lid of the basket for their first points three minutes into the game to cut the Jacksonville lead to 5-3.

Ayron Hardy answered back with a three of his own to give JU an 8-3 lead, with the sophomore owning seven of the eight points scored by the Dolphins.

Travis Lee halted a 5-0 Jacksonville run with a three-pointer in transition to cut the lead to 13-9 with 13 minutes to go.

Brandon Hazzard found Tom Jervis down low for an easy flush to tie the game at 18 with 9:30 to go, but Aric Brooks gave the Dolphins the lead back with two free throws on the next possession.

After two more JU free throws, Josh Williams hit his first jumper to cut the lead back to two points at 22-20. Next, The Trojans capitalized on two missed JU free throws and Williams put in two more to tie the game at 22.

JU missed a low post jumper as time expired to leave the halftime deficit at 41-37. Monday's game was just the second time this season the Dolphins led an opponent at halftime. They led Lipscomb by nine at the break before eventually winning 83-67.

Richard Delk and Vogler scored on consecutive possessions for the Trojans to cut the JU lead to just two points at 49-47 and Vogler picked up a steal leading into the first media timeout of the second half at 15:40.

Troy couldn't execute in two opportunities to tie and Ben Smith picked up a fast break lay-up to push the lead back to four points and JU completed a 6-0 run with a Brooks dunk for a 55-47 lead.

Huddleston converted a three-point play to cut the lead to 55-50, but Smith nailed a three-pointer pushing it back to eight points. Smith hit another three on the next possession and after a Huddleston miss, Smith added a run-out bucket for a 13 point advantage, 63-50.

Vogler hit back-to-back three's to cut the lead to 10 points at 68-58 with 10 minutes to go. The junior from Panama City, Fla. finished the game with 16 points and four steals.

Mario Telfair converted a three-point play with six minutes to go to cut the lead to 11 points, 73-62. The senior from St. Petersburg, Fla. finished with 15 points, a season-high.

Marcus Allen powered in a bucket down low and drew a foul on Telfair with 4:28 to go, but missed the subsequent free throw. Brooks added a dunk after a long rebound for two and JU's largest lead at 17 points.

Allen finished the game with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Smith led the Dolphins with 19 points including hitting five three-pointers.

Hazzard entered the game averaging 21 points in his last three games, but scored just four points against Jacksonville.

The Trojans are in action next on Thursday when they travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky for a New Year's Day showdown with the Hilltoppers. Tip-off is set for 1 pm.