Troy’s Season Ends against Mean Green

Saturday, March 5

Hot Springs, Ark.

6:30 p.m.

Troy University

University of North Texas

Photo by: Sun Belt Conference

3/6/2011 2:56:34 AM | Basketball (M)

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Troy had its moments on Saturday night against North Texas, but ultimately ran out of gas against the Mean Green and fell 83-69 in the first round of the 2011 Sun Belt Tournament.

Billed a rematch of the 2010 title game, the contest featured four starters who played in the win by North Texas in March of last year – all on UNT's side.

While Troy (8-21) graduated all five of its starters from a season ago, the Mean Green were in led in the rematch by a group similar to that which downed the Trojans last season.

Returning All-Sun Belt players Tristan Thompson, Josh White and George Odufuwa combined for 45 points – 16 by Thompson. UNT also got team-high 18 from reserve guard Dominique Johnson.

Troy struggled to get shots to fall for the duration, specifically from outside. The Trojans shot just 43.3 percent from the field and 16 percent (4-of-24) from beyond the arc.

Playing in the final game of his four-year career, Bernard Toombs posted his 12th career double-double. He also established a new Division I era single-season rebound mark for Troy with 439 in his tenure.

Vernon Taylor scored a team-best 17 points for the night.

Two by Toombs gave Troy an 18-11 lead with 13:42 left in the first half. Back-to-back baskets by Levan Patsatsia widened the advantage out to 22-13.

North Texas completed a 10-2 run with a three-point play by Tristan Thompson. The series closed the Mean Green within a point before a two by Kedrick Hogans put UNT on top for the first time at 25-24.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Taylor left the Trojans with a five-point lead, but Thompson converted another three-point play to keep North Texas within a point with 5:10 to go before the intermission.

Johnson's second trey continued the back-and-forth ball game. After a lay-up by Steven Cunningham, Johnson bounced in a long-range triple for UNT's largest lead to that point – 37-32.

Two by Taylor closed Troy to within two points with 40 seconds left in the half, but Johnson connected on another trey to close out first half scoring with the Trojans behind 43-38.

North Texas opened the second stanza with a two and then a 3-pointer from White to force the Trojans into an early timeout just 75 seconds in. Two free throws by Taylor with 18:08 left were Troy's first points of the half.

The basket started a 9-0 run for the Trojans and brought them back within a point. Troy and North Texas would battle in a two possession game until Thompson sank a pair of free throws with 10:06 left to take a 61-56 advantage.

A runner by White widened the Troy deficit to 11 points with 7:37 left. Taylor's three-point play left the Trojans down 13 with 3:02 left.

Travis Lee added 13 and Patsatsia scored 11 in their final games in a Troy uniform.