Troy Drops Battle of the Trojans

Thursday, January 10

Little Rock, Ark.

6:30 p.m.

Troy University

8-7, 1-2SBC

Little Rock

6-10, 1-2SBC

Troy

Little Rock

1/10/2019 10:30:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

Little Rock, Ark. – Troy could not find its rhythm in the second half and suffered a 73-59 loss in Sun Belt Conference men's basketball action inside of Jack Stephens Center on Friday night.

The Trojans (8-7, 1-2 SBC) struggled from the three-point line, shooting 20 percent (4-of-20) while Little Rock (6-10, 1-2 SBC) caught fire in the second half from the field, shooting 53.3 percent (16-of-30) to comeback and hold off Troy.

Senior Jordon Varnado posted his fourth double double of the season in 26 points and 11 rebounds, both of which were game highs alongside a block and a steal.

Sophomore Javan Johnson added nine points, six rebounds, two blocks and an assist. Senior Alex Hicks nearly posted a double double in eight points and 11 rebounds with a block.

Despite going 1-of-11 (9.1 percent) from behind the arc in the first half, the Trojans were able to go into halftime with a 29-27 lead. At the beginning of the second half, Little Rock came out firing and gained a 31-30 lead with 18:17 remaining.

Troy did not let up after giving up its lead, over the next 3:25 the Trojans battled with Little Rock by either tying or retaking the lead before Little Rock gained the lead for good at 40-37.

QUOTING COACH CUNNINGHAM
"I thought it was a disappointing second half. I didn't think we played particularly well in the first half, but we still had a lead; even with the lead I didn't think that we were playing with any flow offensively. We were playing pretty good defense, overall we held them to 40 percent and Little Rock is leading the league shooting 50 percent, so I didn't think defense cost us the game."

"I just thought we never got into a flow offensively and the numbers certainly attest to that, 4-of-20 from the three-point line, we had seven assists and 23 turnovers. The truth is, you're not going to win many games when you have those offensive numbers."

UP NEXT
Troy will head to Jonesboro, Ark., to face Arkansas State on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.