Troy University Athletics
Troy University
6-11, 1-5
Texas State
8-6, 2-3
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Troy Hoops Muscles Past Texas State to Stop Skid
1/16/2016 7:09:00 PM | Basketball (M)
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TROY, Alabama – The Troy men's basketball team beat Texas State at its own game and snapped a six-game losing skid with a 66-57 win on Saturday evening at Trojan Arena.
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In a low-scoring game against the nation's sixth best scoring defense, Troy (6-11, 1-5) got 23 points from sophomore Wesly Person on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-8 from long range. He was a big part of Troy shooting 49 percent (25-of-51) on the night.
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"If you ask any coach in this league who is the toughest man-to-man defensive team in this league, I think without a doubt everybody would say Texas State," Troy head coach Phil Cunningham said. "So I think to shoot 49 percent against those guys is really good."
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John Walton III gave Troy a physical performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds. He led the way on the glass as Troy dominated the Bobcats with a 39-23 rebounding advantage.
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"The rebounding was the difference in the game," Cunningham said. "They were plus-12 at South Alabama on Thursday. The guy who stood out to me was John Walton, who took the loss on Thursday personal."
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Jeremy Hollimon was the third Trojan in double figures as he scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including some clutch baskets during a Trojan run that was the difference.
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After battling back-and-forth for the entire first half, and early in the second half, Troy led Texas State (8-6, 2-3) by two, 34-32, with 17:25 to go. It was then that Person and Hollimon scored every point of a 14-4 run that surge the Trojans ahead, 48-36, with 12:38 to go.
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Person made two 3-pointers and converted a 3-point play during the stretch while Hollimon finished at the rim once and capped the run with his lone 3-pointer of the night.
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The 12-point lead was the biggest of the game as Texas State began to chip away. However, Troy limited Texas State's second-chance opportunities all night and didn't allow the Bobcats to get any closer than five points down the stretch.
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Emani Gant led Texas State with 13 points and eight rebounds as the Bobcats shot 42 percent (22-of-52) on the night.
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Troy now faces a tough road trip to Louisiana to take on ULM and UL Lafayette, the teams picked second and first, respectively, in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll. The trip begins on Thursday at ULM with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
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