Men Knock Off West Leaders

Saturday, February 12

Troy, AL

7:30 pm

Troy University

University of Denver

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

2/12/2011 11:12:10 PM | Basketball (M)

Trojans use 15-6 Second Half Run to Pull Away

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE :: PHOTO GALLERY

TROY – Troy played some of its best defense of the season and converted several timely baskets as it knocked off Sun Belt leader Denver 64-55 on Saturday night in league action in Sartain Hall.

The Pioneers (12-13, 8-4) had taken a slim lead in the Sun Belt Conference standings due to Florida Atlantic falling to Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday evening, but it would be short-lived due to their loss to Troy.

The victory gave the Trojans back-to-back wins for just the second time this season and improved their record to 7-17 and 5-7 in league play. Troy is 5-0 all-time against the Pioneers in Sartain Hall.

The Trojans attempted a season-low 11 3-pointers, and made a season-worst three treys, but played determined defense and forced Denver into 39.2 percent shooting (20-of-51). The Pioneers lead the league in field goal percentage at nearly 50 percent in Sun Belt games.

“I'm really proud of the team tonight,” head coach Don Maestri said. “They were given a game plan yesterday, and of all the teams that we've had that have played Denver in the past, this team executed the game plan the way we think you have to in order to have success against Denver.

“I was really proud of the fact that they were so focused in practice yesterday, and that they came out tonight and backed it up by doing all the things that we had worked on.”

Vernon Taylor shook off Thursday's ankle injury to score 18 points and extend his consecutive free throws made streak to 30 – the longest active streak in NCAA Division I. The senior from Cross, S.C. has scored in double-figures in six straight games.

“[The ankle] was hurting so bad,” Taylor said. “It was killing me. I can't go out like that. It's my senior year, you know, my last couple of games here, so I can't go out like that. I'll play with a broken leg.”

Although he was held to just two assists, a season low, guard Will Weathers was electric offensively. The sophomore had totaled just six points in Troy's previous two games, but he bounced back with game-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds as he posted his fifth double-double of the season.

“I don't know what it was,” Weathers said. “I just felt good. I had a pretty good week of practice. Coach told us to drive it, and I love to drive, so I just used that to my advantage. My family was watching and my son was for the first time in a while, so I wanted to put on a show for them.”

Just two days after setting a season-high for team field goal percentage, the Trojans had another solid night from the field. The Men of Troy hit on 51.2 percent (22-of-43) of their field goal attempts, marking the highest two-game stretch this season.

Denver's dictated the pace of play for the first nine minutes, but despite the clear change of pace, Troy led 12-5 with 11:15 to go in the first half. The Pioneers countered with an 8-2 run to pull within one before the Trojans got a long two from Weathers for a 17-13 lead.

DU knotted the game at 17 on a 3-pointer by Kyle Lewis, then took its first lead on a run-out two by Chase Hallam. Two more by Lewis made it 21-17 Pioneers with 4:20 left in the opening half.

A lay-up, then a 3-pointer by Weathers tied the game at 24, but Denver's Chase Hallam hit his second trey on the next trip. Travis Lee hit three free throws to tie the game with eight seconds to go before the break.

The Trojans built a six-point lead on a 3-pointer by Steven Cunningham, but Lewis sank a trey for DU in response. Following at two by Toombs and two more by Taylor, Troy led 51-42 with less than eight minutes to go.

Dothan-native Cunningham finished as the third Trojan in double-figures with 10 points.

Weathers opened the lead out to 12 on a flashy lay-up with the shot clock dwindling, but Trevor Noonan's triple pared the Trojans' advantage down to 58-49. The Pioneers forced a turnover and Chase Hallam (team-high 14 points) quickly scored two to leave his squad down 58-51 with two minutes to go.

Two free throws by Weathers with 1:18 left widened the Trojans' margin to 60-51. Denver's Brian Stafford sank two at the line, and then Taylor sank two free throws for a nine-point lead with 47 seconds left.

Weathers added two more with 30 seconds to go. Denver's Travis Hallam tacked on a late layup to close the scoring and give Troy the win.

The Trojans out-scored Denver 37-28 after the half while shooting 57 percent (12-of-21) from the floor.

Troy continues its three-game home stand by hosting MTSU on Thursday night at 7:30 pm.