Troy University Athletics
Thursday, January 5
Troy, Ala.
7:30 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Middle Tennessee State University
Photo by: Cass Davis
Trojans Welcome Blue Raiders to Town
1/4/2012 4:31:00 PM | Basketball (M)
Live Stats | Live Video | Game Notes
TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball team returns home Thursday as they host Middle Tennessee at Sartain Hall at 7:30 p.m. in the first contest of 2012 for each team.
The Trojans (5-8, 0-2) come into the game as losers of three straight, including their first two Sun Belt contests. Troy fell at Denver and North Texas and will welcome Middle Tennessee to town in their first home conference game of the season.
The Blue Raiders (13-2, 2-0) however, have won five straight, including their first two Sun Belt games. Middle Tennessee hosted FIU and South Alabama last week at the Murphy Center, but now hit the road in league play for the first time.
Live stats and live video for Thursday's game can be seen at the above links. Be sure to check back with TroyTrojans.com for a recap and stats from Sartain Hall. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook for up to the minute updates.
Gameday Storylines
- Troy is glad to be back at home where they are 4-1 this season, with the one loss being by six points to UTSA, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago. The Trojans are just 1-7 away from home this season.
- Troy enters the contest as the nation's second-best three-point shooting team as they make 10.3 threes per game. Troy is second to just Florida (11.0) in that category and one of just three teams averaging over 10.0.
- The Trojans are able to rain in the threes by creating as many possessions as possible as they average 16.2 offensive boards per game, the most in the Sun Belt and fourth most in the nation.
- Troy also doesn't waste the extra possessions they create as they commit just 12.5 turnovers per game, the second best mark in the Sun Belt. Pair that with the 16.1 turnovers they force, and the Trojans' +3.6 turnover margin is the best in the league and 26th best in the nation.
- Will Weathers is the engine that makes the Trojans go as he leads the team in scoring (13.1) and the Sun Belt in assists (6.3). The 6.3 assists per game are the 20th best mark in the nation.
The Series
- The Trojans trail the all-time series with the Blue Raiders, 7-8, but hold a 7-4 advantage in regular season Sun Belt contests. Two of the other meetings came in the Sun Belt Tournament and two came in the 1970s, with the Blue Raiders winning all four of those games.
- Last season the two sides split a pair of meetings with each team winning at home. The Trojans fell by 12 in Murfreesboro in late January before winning, 69-65, at Sartain Hall in mid-February.
- In the contest at the Murphy Center, the Trojans didn't have any players in double-figures for the second time in 2010-11. Before that season, the Trojans hadn't done so since 1997.
- The win at Sartain Hall was the third of a season-long three-game winning streak for the Trojans. Will Weathers led the way with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
A Troy Win Would…
- Even the series with between the Trojans and Blue Raiders at 8-8
- Make the Trojans 6-2 against the Blue Raiders at Sartain Hall
- Give Don Maestri his 491st career victory
- Give the Trojans their sixth win of the season, a feat that didn't happen last season until Feb. 10
- Put the Trojans at 6-8, last season the Trojans were 2-12 through 14 games
- Give the Trojans their first Sun Belt win of the season
- Make the Trojans 5-1 at home this season
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