Trojans Drop Regular Season Finale to South Alabama

Saturday, March 2

Troy, Ala.

7:30 p.m.

Troy University

South Alabama

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Trojans Drop Regular Season Finale to South Alabama

3/2/2013 9:48:00 PM | Basketball (M)

By: Joe St. Pierre

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball team (11-20, 6-14) was defeated by South Alabama (17-11, 14-6), 53-49, on Saturday night at Trojan Arena, closing out the regular season. Emil Jones celebrated senior night with 22 points, eight boards and four assists, all team-highs.

“The first half was the half we should have pressed the advantage,” said head coach Don Maestri. “We should have extended the lead. They played much better basketball in the second half.”

Jones was dominant all night, leading the Trojans in almost every statistical category. The Trojans had a shot to tie in the final seconds, but Jones was triple-teamed and couldn't get off a quality look.

“Emil has made some of these clutch shots so there was no play set up,” Maestri said. “They knew he was going to take the last shot.”

Troy led by as many as 16 points in the first half, but the Jaguars used a 15-point run that stretched over the half to tie the score up at 28. The two teams battled for the rest of the second half, with neither team leading by more than five points.

Troy shot 35 percent from the field (19-of-54) and 20 percent from range (3-of-15). South Alabama was 22-of-51 from the field (43.1 %) including 5-of-17 from deep (29.4 %). The Trojans outrebounded the Jaguars 35-34.

Westley Hinton was the only other Trojan to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points, all in the first half. Augustine Rubit led the Jaguars with 13 points, while Javier Carter went for 10 points and 13 boards.

The Trojans came out with intensity to start the game, eventually taking a nine-point lead into the break, 28-19. The 19 first half points was the second fewest the Trojans have allowed in the first half this year. They gave up just 16 in their 57-56 win over Georgia State.

The Trojans will face Florida Atlantic in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament on Friday, March 8, at 8:30 p.m. The winner will advance to play the second seeded Red Wolves of Arkansas State on Saturday night.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.