Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Free Throw Surplus Spurs Defeat
2/26/2011 8:27:28 PM | Basketball (M)
Troy shoots just 12 free throws in loss.
BOX SCORE
MIAMI – Troy was out-shot from the free throw line 36 attempts to eight attempts by FIU on Saturday night as the Trojans fell 83-76 in Sun Belt action in US Century Bank Arena.
FIU hit 32-of-41 free throws, while Troy was held to just 8-of-12 and 2-of-4 after the first half.
“This was a game that we could've won,” head coach Don Maestri said. “It was a game that we probably out-played them. On defense, I thought we did a good job. Offensively, I thought we did a good job. We missed a couple that could've probably put the game away. Then we had a chance to win it and missed.
“We never shot a free throw in the second half. Not a single foul shot in the second half. It's disheartening, but we've got another season coming up in Hot Springs.”
The defeat closed out Troy's regular season schedule with a record of 8-20.
The Trojans fell despite some strong outside shooting, specifically from seniors Regis Huddleston (19 points) and Travis Lee (18 points). The pair combined to hit 11-of-31 from outside.
As a team, Troy connected on 14-of-45 3-point attempts (31.1 percent).
Marvin Roberts sank a 3-pointer to give FIU a 15-12 lead. Two from Will Weathers closed the Trojans to within a point with 10:34 to go before halftime.
The Trojans were able to take a 22-19 lead on back-to-back treys from Levan Patsatsia and Huddleston. Huddleston's second 3-pointer widened the advantage to six with seven minutes left.
FIU capped a 10-2 run with a 15-footer from Phil Gary, but Huddleston answered with his third 3-pointer of the night to tie the game at 31. Following two free throws by Dominique Ferguson, Huddleston sank another triple to put Troy up 34-33 with 1:17 left.
Two free throws by Huddleston opened up a 36-33 lead for Troy, but Jeremy Allen connected on two free throws with 2.6 seconds left to send the game to the intermission with the Trojans up a point – 36-35.
Lee's 3-pointer capped an 8-2 run by the Trojans to start the second half. The senior from Tallahassee, Fla. made it three 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the second half to give Troy a 47-40 lead with 17 minutes left.
An alley-oop slam by Steven Cunningham followed by a two in the paint from Levan Patsatsia gave the Trojans an eight point lead, but Jeremy Allen converted a three-point play to make it 60-54 with 8:17 remaining.
Two by Marvin Roberts closed FIU to within a point with 3:37 remaining. The Golden Panthers tied the game at 70 on a triple by the senior and then took their first lead since the 16:50 mark of the first half on a free throw by DeJuan Wright with 2:16 to go.
Vernon Taylor gave Troy the lead on a runner, but Wright converted one free throw for another tie. Huddleston missed a trey with 1:09 remaining, but on the ensuing rebounding, Wright traveled giving the Trojans back possession.
Weathers lost the ball while trying to split a double team and Tremayne Russell dove on the ball to call a timeout and save possession. Wright missed a lay-up with 32 seconds left and Troy took a timeout with 26.1 left on the clock to set up a final play.
Weathers missed shot from the foul line to send the game to overtime.
Jeremy Allen's 3-pointer opened up the extra frame. He sank a second triple to sandwich a tip-in by Troy's Taylor.
Taylor attempted Troy's first free throw since the first half and split the pair to cut the deficit to 78-75 with two minutes remaining. Lee missed a tying 3-point try, then FIU put a final nail in the Trojans' coffin with a three-point play by Roberts.
Trailing 81-75, Troy missed two tries from outside and Cameron Bell was fouled. Bell sank one free throw to make it a three possession game with 38.5 seconds left.
FIU tacked on a free throw by Eric Frederick. Taylor also added a free throw to close the scoring. Taylor scored 18 points and tied his career-high with nine rebounds.
Weathers had 10 assists to move into 5th place on Troy's Division I list.
Roberts scored a season-high 26 points to lead FIU. Wright and Allen both scored 16.
Troy's next action will be on Saturday in the opening round of the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Championship in Hot Springs, Ark.
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