Troy Falls to GSU in Thriller

Sunday, November 29

Statesboro, Ga. (Hosted by Georgia Southern)

2:30 PM

Troy University

Georgia Southern

11/29/2009 7:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)

STATESBORO, Ga. – Troy stormed back late, but in the end Georgia Southern made the baskets when it counted to take an 80-77 win over the Troy Trojans on Sunday afternoon at Hanner Fieldhouse.

After a runner by Willie Powers, Brandon Hazzard drilled another triple from the top of the key to knot the game at 69 with 2:14 remaining. Richard Delk sank two big free throws, but Rory Spencer took Troy's blow and threw one of his own completing a three-point play to give his squad back the lead.

Delk finished with 20 points for the game. Hazzard led all scorers with 22. Ben Drayton scored 21 points for Georgia Southern.

After a bucket by Powers, Delk drew a foul with 10.7 left and sank two to give the Trojans another lead, but Powers sank another runner with 1.7 left to give GSU a one-point lead. Troy couldn't get the ball inbounded and Rucker sank two free throws to ice the game for the Eagles.

“I don't think we played a very good game,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “We turned it over 21 times. Half of those turnovers were our fault, not due to the pressure. I also don't think we shot all that well. Hazzard was just 7-for-17. We need him to shoot a lot better soon.

“They did a good job of driving to the basket. We did a poor job of stopping it. Give them credit, we knew they were going to drive it and they did it anyway. This is a tough loss because this is a game we could have easily won. It's a shame because the next three games on the road are going to be against very tough Conference USA and SEC teams.”

Antywan Jones had three rebounds and put-back to help the Trojans on a 9-2 run to open the contest, but that would be short lived as the Eagles charged back with a 13-3 run of their own to take a 17-12 lead with 12:10 to go in the opening half.

The teams continued to trade baskets throughout the first half with Troy finally taking a lead on back-to-back treys by Taylor and Hazzard.

Antonio Hansen drilled consecutive treys for Georgia Southern, but Delk countered with a Trojan triple before Hazzard followed with a jumper for a 32-28 lead with 1:36 to go.

Willie Powers hit a turnaround jumper for GSU, but Hanson couldn't get a floater to go as time expired in the first half leaving Troy on top 32-30 at the half.

Jones led the Trojans' glass assault with eight rebounds before the break. He finished the game tied with Yamene Coleman for the game lead with 10 rebounds. Troy out-rebounded the Eagles 42-27.

“I think we did a poor job handing the ball,” Maestri said. “We didn't do a good job of protecting the ball. Georgia Southern came out with intensity and energized from the beginning. You do that when you play at home. They played as hard as they could. They didn't want to lose two games on their home floor in their home tournament.”

The Trojans turned the ball over 21 times compared to 16 by Georgia Southern. The Trojans were also called for 23 personal fouls, compared to only 16 being whistled against the home-standing Eagles.

The Trojans hit all but two free throws, connecting on 16-of-18 for the night

Troy is in action next on Friday when they travel to face in-state foe Auburn. Tip-off at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum is set for 7 pm. Barry McKnight and Jerry Miller will have all the action from courtside on the Troy ISP Network beginning at 6:30 pm.