Clutch FIU Basket Seals Troy’s Fate

Thursday, February 3

Troy, Ala.

7:30 p.m.

Troy University

Florida International University

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

2/3/2011 10:51:51 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score

Loss Drops Troy to 1-3 in OT Games.

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE :: PHOTO GALLERY

TROY – It took all 45 minutes to decide who would emerge victorious as Troy and FIU battled, but the Golden Panthers ultimately scored with 7.6 seconds left to earn an 81-80 win over the Trojans in Sun Belt action.

Troy's chance as time expired missed to drop the squad to 5-17 this season, including 4-6 in Sun Belt play. The Trojans are 1-3 in overtime games this year.

“It was a hard-fought basketball game,” Troy head coach Don Maestri said. “It was the type of the game that when it ends up being a one-pointer, the team that loses those types of games is extremely disappointed and the team that wins it is extremely happy. We are the ones that ended up extremely disappointed. Other than that it was just a battle all the way for 40 minutes.”

Thursday night's game featured 23 lead changes and eight ties.

Travis Lee capped a 7-0 run to start the game with his first trey forcing FIU head coach Isiah Thomas into a timeout just 96 seconds into the contest.

But following the quick start, FIU (9-13, 4-6) switched to a zone defense that stymied the Trojans allowing the Golden Panthers to engineer an 13-0 run to take a 15-11 lead.

The Trojans ended a drought of more than six minutes with a Regis Huddleston trey at the 11:28 mark. It would be another six minutes before Troy would be able to retake the lead with Vernon Taylor's first 3-pointer of the night for a 23-21 advantage.

Vernon Taylor was 8-of-8 from the free throw line before the break. He finished the game 10-of-10 at the charity stripe. Taylor has converted 22 straight free throws – he finished with a game-high 23 points.

Dominique Ferguson's basket with two seconds left closed the first half scoring and gave FIU a 35-34 lead at the break.

The second half started with five lead changes in the first 1:14 and Troy held a 41-40 advantage. The lead would be short lived as FIU pulled ahead by six with a 13-7 run to lead it 54-48.

A 6-0 run closed the Trojans to within a point, 62-61, but FIU was able to respond with a runner by Phil Gary. The Golden Panthers were able to answer each time Troy drew to within three and held a 72-69 lead with 2:13 to go.

The Trojans missed two chances on the subsequent possession, but Phil Taylor missed two free throws and Lee knotted the game at 72 with another trey, this one with 54 seconds left in regulation.

With just 21.4 seconds left, the Golden Panthers took possession on a jump ball, but FIU was unable to get it inbounds before a count of five setting up a final chance for the Trojans.

After a foul on Weathers with 2.7 seconds remaining, Huddleston's desperation 3-point try missed sending the game to overtime.

FIU got two free throws for the lead to start the extra period, but Vernon Taylor connected on his third triple to give the Trojans a 75-74 lead with 2:55 left in the extra frame. FIU's Taylor gave his team the lead with five straight, then Lee's trey left Troy down by just a point with 1:16 left.

After a Golden Panthers' miss, Troy had possession with 33.8 left. Huddleston was fouled on a 3-point attempt. The senior from Bay Springs, Miss. made two of three at the line for an 80-79 lead with 30 seconds left.

Gary missed a runner for FIU and after Vernon Taylor grabbed the rebound, he was called for traveling as he was knocked to ground upon his descent tothe floor.

The Trojans' turnover setup a final possession for FIU with nine seconds left under their own basket. FIU got two from DeJuan Wright with 7.6 left and Huddleston's shot at the buzzer was off the mark handing Troy the loss.

Toombs recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Huddleston (15) and Lee (12) rounded out Troy's double-figure scorers. Lee made his second-straight start and first at home since November 15, 2008 against UAB.

Weathers had nine assists – he leads the Sun Belt with 135 this season.

Five Golden Panthers scored in double-figures led by Gary with 21.

Troy is off on Saturday and in action next a week from today at South Alabama.