ASU Downs the Trojans on Senior Night

Saturday, February 19

Troy, Ala.

7:30 p.m.

Troy University

Arkansas State University

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

2/19/2011 11:19:12 PM | Basketball (M)

Troy Drops to 8-18 on the season.

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE :: PHOTO GALLERY

TROY – Troy was out-muscled and out-performed by Arkansas State on Saturday as the Trojans fell 71-63 in the final home game for five seniors.

Trojan seniors Regis Huddleston (Bay Springs, Miss.), Travis Lee (Tallahasee, Fla.), Levan Patsatsia (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia), Vernon Taylor (Cross, S.C.) and Bernard Toombs (Columbus, Ga.) were honored in a ceremony prior to tip-off for their service to the Troy program.

The Redwolves (15-14, 9-5) were able to control the game by controlling the glass. ASU out-rebounded 49-25. The Trojans' rebound total was a season low.

“In the first half, I thought we were fortunate to just be down by one,” head coach Don Maestri said. “Arkansas State had 13 offensive rebounds and we had 10 total rebounds. The fact that they were doing that well on the boards was a sign of how much effort they were putting in trying to score, even after they missed a shot.

“We really struggled the whole game. I thought we looked a little tired at times. We just didn't play good basketball, and we're not talented enough to not play well.”

Troy (8-18, 6-8) struggled from the floor for most of the night and shot just 36.7 percent for the game, after shooting 50 percent from the field during the three-game winning streak it brought into the game.

Taylor started the game with three made free throws to extend his streak to 37, but missed his next two. He finished the game 8-of-11from the line and scored 17 points – his eighth-straight game in double-figures.

The Men of Troy set a season high with nine blocked shots, including a career-high three by Steven Cunningham and Tim Owens.

The loss breaks a streak of five-straight wins by the Trojans over ASU.

Troy took a 16-12 lead on two free throws by Taylor. Huddleston widened the margin to seven on throws free throws with 10:07 to go before the intermission.

The Redwolves took their largest lead of the first half, 35-30, following triple by Trey Finn. Troy answered with two free throws from Will Weathers.

Weathers recorded 11 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year.

Trailing 35-32 with 36.9 seconds left before the intermission, Taylor scored two with nine seconds left and Owens blocked away a try by ASU as time expired to send the game to halftime with the Trojans trailing 35-34.

Arkansas State started the second half with a 5-0 run before Troy got two free throws from Taylor. Troy made it seven in a row with two by Weathers and a Lee 3-pointer to take a 41-40 lead. Lee scored 11 points on the night.

The Redwolves engineered an 11-1 run – all by Adam Sterrenberg – to take an eight-point lead. Troy answered with back-to-back baskets from Steven Cunningham and Regis Huddleston, but Sterrenberg scored two more to stop the push.

A 3-pointer by Taylor closed the Trojans to within three – 56-53 with 4:56 left in the contest. Finn's triple made it an 8-0 run for ASU and 64-53 lead with 2:20 to go. Finn led Arkansas State with 15 points.

Troy cut the lead to seven in the final two minutes, but would get no closer.

The Trojans close out the regular season a two-game road trip to Florida next week. Troy faces Florida Atlantic on Thursday at 6 pm.