Troy Begins 2018-19 Season Against Fort Valley State

Troy vs. Fort Valley State
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Site: Trojan Arena

Troy, Ala. – Troy men's basketball begins its 2018-19 season on Tuesday night against Fort Valley State inside Trojan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and the game is free admission.

The Trojans return six players from last season including three starters in seniors BJ Miller, Jordon Varnado. Varnado finished the 2017-18 campaign averaging 18.0 points, seven rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game which landed him on the All-Sun Belt Second Team. Sophomores Javan Johnson, Darian Adams and Malik Burnett join the senior trio as returners.

Troy added eight newcomers this season in juniors Devante Foster and Charles Norman, sophomore Davion Thomas and freshmen KJ Simon, Zay Williams, Jalen Tuck, Eric Walker and Spencer Rodgers. Thomas, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, will have to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Troy was selected to finish fourth this season in the Sun Belt Conference. Varnado was tabbed on the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after a dominant shortened 2017-18 season. Additionally, Varnado was named to the Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List, which is an award given to the top small forward in Division I men's basketball.

Scouting Fort Valley State
Fort Valley State finished the 2017-18 campaign with a 13-16 overall record and a 9-10 record in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Panthers made it to the second round of the SIAC Tournament before being eliminated by Morehouse College, 82-75.

Fort Valley State returns three players from last season in senior trio Tyler Edwards, Jaylon McMillan and Dexter Williams. Edwards led the team last season averaging 15.8 points per game with McMillan following behind with 13.3 points per game.

Head coach Mark D. Sherill will begin his first year with the program after serving 24 years as the associate head coach at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.

The Series
Tuesday will mark the first contest between the two teams. Troy is 1-0 against teams in the SIAC, as the Trojans defeated Paine College, 85-77 on Dec. 17, 2015.

Home Season Openers
Under head coach Phil Cummingham's tenure, Troy is 2-0 in season openers played at Trojan Arena. Troy defeated Brewton-Parker 85-71 on Nov. 14, 2014 and cruised past Toccoa Falls, 135-76 on Nov. 11, 2016. Troy has won its last five home season-openers dating back to the 2009-10 season.

Early Start
Tuesday's game will mark the earliest that Troy will begin its regular season. The earliest that Troy has ever started the season prior to Nov. 6 is Nov. 8 when the Trojans played Ole Miss (L, 69-54) in 2013.

For more information on Troy men's basketball follow along on Twitter at @TroyTrojansMBB and on Instagram at @troymenshoops.

Troy Begins 2018-19 Season Against Fort Valley State

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Players Mentioned

Darian Adams

Malik Burnett

Devante Foster

Javan Johnson

BJ Miller

Charles Norman

Spencer Rodgers

KJ Simon

Davion Thomas

Jalen Tuck

Jordon Varnado

Eric Walker

Zay Williams

Troy University Athletics