Hot Shooting Downs Troy

Monday, November 12

Pittsburgh, PA.

6 p.m.

Troy University

(1-2)

Pittsburgh

(3-0)

Troy

Pitt

11/12/2018 10:30:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

Pittsburgh, Pa. – Three Troy players scored in double figures, but the team could not slow down Pittsburgh in the second half as it dropped an 84-75 decision on Monday night in non-conference basketball action at Peterson Events Center.

The Trojans (1-2) kept the game close going into halftime trailing the Panthers (3-0) 40-35, but the three-point shot failed Troy in the second half and helped its opponent.

Senior Jordon Varnado posted his second double double in as many games with 22 points and 11 rebounds alongside two blocks, an assist and one steal. Fellow seniors Alex Hicks and BJ Miller joined Varnado in double-digit points with 16 and 13 points respectively. Miller added six assists, three rebounds and a steal to his stat line.

Troy held the Panthers to just 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from behind the arc in the first half but Pitt shot 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) from the three in the second and 50 percent (30-of-60) overall to hold on to their lead. Pitt saw five players score at least 12 points led by senior Jared Wilson-Frame who dropped 24 off the bench including 16 on 4-of-6 from behind the arc in the second half.

After halftime, Pitt went up by 10 in only 1:32 and never looked back from there. Troy kept inching back to bring to game close, as the Trojans caught a little momentum with three minutes left in the contest, but Pitt managed to grab four offensive rebounds that ran off 1:16 off the clock.

Troy would get within seven (82-75) with 54 seconds remaining, but Pitt would hold off the Trojans, making both free throws after a foul to secure the 84-75 win.

Quoting Coach Cunningham
About tonight's game…
"I did not think we played really well, particularly offensively and we still had some chances late. We have to make some shots and that is the bottom line and we will. We shot it well this summer in Costa Rica and we shot it well all fall. Give credit to Pittsburgh and St. Louis, they are two of the better defensive teams that we will play all year. The difference in this game was Wilson-Frame hit 6-of-10 three's, and we need someone to step up like that."

About the overall trip…
"I'm pleased that everybody on this trip in the program is disappointed that we lost to the Atlantic-10 favorites and an ACC opponent," head coach Phil Cunningham said. "I'm pleased with the disappointment in the locker room, it shows me that as a program we've moved it forward. I just feel like it was a road trip where we left somethings unfinished in particularly the St. Louis game. I think the potential for growth of this team is there and I'm pleased with how hard and competitive we are playing."

Quick Hits
- Troy posted a season-high 89.3 percent (25-of-28) from the charity stripe, marking the third consecutive game the Trojans as a team shot better than 73 percent
- Troy grabbed a season-high 14 offensive rebounds out of a total of 37
- Eight of the nine players that saw action in the game scored at least two points

Up Next
Troy will take a break from the Barclays Center Classic as it welcomes Southern Miss to Trojan Arena for a 6 p.m. game on Thursday, Nov. 15.