Troy University Athletics
Troy to Face ULM on Thursday
12/29/2009 11:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)
MONROE, La. – The Troy Trojans men's basketball team will face the ULM Warhawks on the last day of 2009 as both teams continue Sun Belt Conference play. Tip-off is set for 2 pm in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Troy needs to bounce back with a strong effort against the Warhawks. The Trojans are reeling following a disappointing loss to Marshall at home on Monday.
The Trojans led 30-plus minutes of Monday's game with the Thundering Herd, but missed three free throws in the final 33 seconds to fall 78-75.
Head coach Don Maestri is hopeful his squad's experience will help them produce a solid performance on Thursday afternoon.
“That is going to be a very interesting situation to see how we handle coming back after a tough loss on Monday,” Maestri said. “We won't know until the game is over if we were truly able to come back strong. I would hope because of our experience we would be able to bounce back.”
The veteran coach is aware of what trials await his squad in the Sun Belt season and is specifically aware of the challenge to come in Monroe.
“Every team [in the Sun Belt] is good enough to beat any other team,” Maestri said. “There is no dominant team in our league this year. Every team is good and every team has some decent experience. Every night that you don't play well, you can lose. Whoever plays well on the most consistent basis will be the teams that are in that upper echelon.
“[ULM] has the same team back from last year, so they are very experienced. They also added their leading scorer from two years ago, Tony Hooper, who was injured last season. They are very talented with a lot of experience.”
Hooper who missed most of the 2008-09 season with a foot injury has returned to form in his fifth season and is leading the balanced Warhawk team with a 12.8 points per game average. The former All-Sun Belt honoree is also third in rebounding (55), second with 33 assists and leads the squad with 26 steals.
He has averaged 16.5 points per game in two career contests with the Trojans. Troy is 1-1 in those games, including a 26-point, five-assist, four-steal performance by the fifth-year senior in a 91-78 win by the Warhawks on January 27, 2007.
Dynile Forbes and Lawrence Gilbert are both scoring in double-figures for ULM with identical 11.2 ppg averages.
The Trojans counter with a talented trio of their own. Brandon Hazzard is second in the Sun Belt in scoring at 17.6 ppg and leads the league in made 3-pointers (31). Fellow seniors Richard Delk (13.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Mike Vogler (12.0 ppg, 67 assists) round out the perimeter triple threat.
Troy's two other senior starters have both come on as of late. Forward Antywan Jones is scoring almost nine points a game and is leading the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage. The Clarksdale, Miss. native has connected on 14-of-25 attempts this season to the tune of 56 percent.
Last, but certainly not least, Alabama transfer Yamene Coleman has provided an interior influence Troy has desperately needed over the last few seasons.
Coleman is scoring 10.4 ppg and is leading the team with 89 rebounds. Additionally, he leads the Sun Belt in field goal percentage with a 62.6 percent (57-of-91) mark. He became the first Trojans since the 2003-04 season to record back-to-back double-doubles with double-digit rebound and point games against Houston and New Orleans.
Live statistics will be available at TroyTrojans.com. Beginning at 1:30 pm, Barry McKnight will bring you all the action from courtside on the Troy ISP Network and online.
Troy needs to bounce back with a strong effort against the Warhawks. The Trojans are reeling following a disappointing loss to Marshall at home on Monday.
The Trojans led 30-plus minutes of Monday's game with the Thundering Herd, but missed three free throws in the final 33 seconds to fall 78-75.
Head coach Don Maestri is hopeful his squad's experience will help them produce a solid performance on Thursday afternoon.
“That is going to be a very interesting situation to see how we handle coming back after a tough loss on Monday,” Maestri said. “We won't know until the game is over if we were truly able to come back strong. I would hope because of our experience we would be able to bounce back.”
The veteran coach is aware of what trials await his squad in the Sun Belt season and is specifically aware of the challenge to come in Monroe.
“Every team [in the Sun Belt] is good enough to beat any other team,” Maestri said. “There is no dominant team in our league this year. Every team is good and every team has some decent experience. Every night that you don't play well, you can lose. Whoever plays well on the most consistent basis will be the teams that are in that upper echelon.
“[ULM] has the same team back from last year, so they are very experienced. They also added their leading scorer from two years ago, Tony Hooper, who was injured last season. They are very talented with a lot of experience.”
Hooper who missed most of the 2008-09 season with a foot injury has returned to form in his fifth season and is leading the balanced Warhawk team with a 12.8 points per game average. The former All-Sun Belt honoree is also third in rebounding (55), second with 33 assists and leads the squad with 26 steals.
He has averaged 16.5 points per game in two career contests with the Trojans. Troy is 1-1 in those games, including a 26-point, five-assist, four-steal performance by the fifth-year senior in a 91-78 win by the Warhawks on January 27, 2007.
Dynile Forbes and Lawrence Gilbert are both scoring in double-figures for ULM with identical 11.2 ppg averages.
The Trojans counter with a talented trio of their own. Brandon Hazzard is second in the Sun Belt in scoring at 17.6 ppg and leads the league in made 3-pointers (31). Fellow seniors Richard Delk (13.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Mike Vogler (12.0 ppg, 67 assists) round out the perimeter triple threat.
Troy's two other senior starters have both come on as of late. Forward Antywan Jones is scoring almost nine points a game and is leading the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage. The Clarksdale, Miss. native has connected on 14-of-25 attempts this season to the tune of 56 percent.
Last, but certainly not least, Alabama transfer Yamene Coleman has provided an interior influence Troy has desperately needed over the last few seasons.
Coleman is scoring 10.4 ppg and is leading the team with 89 rebounds. Additionally, he leads the Sun Belt in field goal percentage with a 62.6 percent (57-of-91) mark. He became the first Trojans since the 2003-04 season to record back-to-back double-doubles with double-digit rebound and point games against Houston and New Orleans.
Live statistics will be available at TroyTrojans.com. Beginning at 1:30 pm, Barry McKnight will bring you all the action from courtside on the Troy ISP Network and online.
Adam Howard - Introductory Press Conference
Monday, March 30
NCAA Tournament First Round Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, March 19
NCAA Tournament First Round Pre-game Press Conference
Wednesday, March 18
SBC Championship Postgame Press Conference (Scott Cross, Victor Valdes, Thomas Dowd) - No. 10 Georgia Southern
Tuesday, March 10