Troy Welcomes Belmont on Saturday

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Troy fans will have to wake up early to make it to Sartain Hall in time to see Troy and Belmont square off on Saturday morning. Tip-off is set for 11 am.

The scheduled start time was originally 7 pm, but was moved up after the Troy football team accepted an invitation to play in the 2010 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl scheduled for 8 pm on Saturday.

But, if the Trojans supporters do show up early, they will be treated to a high-powered offensive match-up.

Troy (1-8) has long been known for its high-scoring ways and its ability to shoot the ball from deep. That hasn't changed this season. The Trojans rank first in the Sun Belt in 3-pointers made per game with 9.2.

The team is also shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, collectively, this season inside Sartain Hall.

But the other side of the floor is just as talented. Belmont enters the game shooting 37.1 percent as a team from deep and knocking down 9.4 treys per contest.

“You're getting ready to see an outstanding 3-point shooting basketball team,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “Belmont is one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country and they have been for some time now. They've played two Sun Belt teams, Middle Tennessee, who they beat in Murfreesboro, and, Arkansas State, who they beat by 30. They played Vanderbilt and Tennessee to eight or nine-point games. They were right in those games.

“They're very experienced. They have basically the same guys back from last year. They really know how to play the game. The thing that they have going for them is that they can really shoot the 3-point shot.”

The Bruins (7-2) have four starters back from a team that won 19 games a season ago. They rank ninth nationally in 3-pointers per game and in the top third of Division I teams in 3-point percentage.

While Troy is reeling with eight straight losses, Maestri has seen several signs of hope in his team's recent play.

“I think we are playing better basketball,” the 29-year veteran said. “There is no doubt. That should help us if we can play that well again against Belmont. I can say this – we've improved a lot in the past three weeks.”

Troy is getting solid all-around efforts from a trio of seniors. Vernon Taylor (15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Levan Patsatsia (12.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) have been key cogs on the perimeter, while Bernard Toombs has continued to do the dirty work in the paint (10.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 17 blocks).

Another senior, guard Regis Huddleston, is shooting 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from beyond the arc at home.

Belmont features 10 players that average at least 14 minutes played per game. Ian Clark leads a trio of Bruins in double-figures with 12.6 ppg. He's joined by Scott Saunders who adds 11.6 ppg off the bench and Mick Hedgepeth (12.4 ppg) who leads the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.

Coverage on the Troy Sports Network by IMG College begins at 10:30 am with the State Farm Pregame Show.

Troy University Athletics

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