Poor Shooting Leads to Loss

Thursday, December 23

Logan, Utah

9:00 p.m.

Troy University

Utah State University

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

12/23/2010 10:00:56 PM | Basketball (M)

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE

LOGAN, Utah – Troy couldn't find the bottom of the basket for the duration on Thursday, and while Utah State had similar struggles early, their misfortunes would end much sooner than the Trojans' as they were defeated 80-39 in non-conference action.

"They played a game of basketball well," head coach Don Maestri said. "It was a team. They take high-percentage shots. They move the ball around. They work the ball around until they get high-percentage shots. They moved it inside for good shots. They are just an overall good basketball team.

"Tonight, if we could have answered a few of their shots early, then we could've maybe made it a basketball game. Unfortunately, we were never in this basketball game."

Both teams struggled from the field in the first four minutes and at the first media timeout, Troy and Utah State were a combined 2-for-12 from the field.

The poor shooting continued with both squads missing their first 12 combined shots from outside. USU's Brian Green connected on the first 3-pointer of the game and it gave his team an 11-2 lead with 11:52 remaining.

Regis Huddleston finally connected on Troy's first 3-pointer to make it 1-of-9 from outside the arc. Green's three-point play made it 38-13 with 1:23 left in the opening half.

Troy (2-11) held for the last shot, but couldn't convert and took a 40-13 deficit into the locker room. The Trojans hit just 4-of-28 field goals in the opening half.

James Walker III's 3-pointer made it 67-22 in favor of Utah State. Troy trailed 72-29 following Huddleston's lay-up with 7:02 left.

Levan Patsatsia scored nine points to lead Troy. Green paced the Aggies (11-2) with 23.

With no Trojans in double-figures, Troy failed to have a player score 10-plus points for the first time since November 15, 1997 against Baylor.

The next scheduled action for Troy is January 6 at Louisiana-Lafayette.