Troy University Athletics
Troy University
10-10, 3-5SBC
Louisiana
13-7, 4-3SBC
Trojans Fall Despite Career Night from Varnado
1/26/2019 10:56:00 PM | Basketball (M)
Lafayette, La. – Three Troy players scored 20 or more points on the night but could not hold onto its lead as the Trojans dropped an 86-81 decision to Louisiana in Sun Belt Conference men's basketball action on Saturday night in the Cajundome.
Troy (10-10, 3-5 SBC) shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) on the night including 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the second half but was outmatched by the Ragin' Cajuns (13-7, 4-3 SBC) 58.3 percent (7-of-12) shooting from behind the arc and 57.1 percent (16-of-28) overall in the second half.
Senior Jordon Varnado posted a double double in a career-high 33 points with 11 rebounds alongside one block. Fellow senior Alex Hicks also posted a double double in a season-high tying 20 points and a season-high 14 rebounds.
Sophomore Javan Johnson tied his career high with 20 points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc. Johnson added six rebounds and two assists to his stat line.
Troy trailed by eight points with 16:44 remaining but stormed back to tie the game at 59 with 10:42 left. The Trojans captured the lead when Johnson nailed both free throws to put Troy up 63-62 with 9:03 remaining.
Louisiana fought back and tied the game at 76 off a three-pointer and would eventually take the lead after two free throws with 2:17 left.
Varnado answered with a layup to even the score for the seventh time in the game but Louisiana's Marcus Stroman came back with a layup of his own which gave the Ragin' Cajuns the lead for good.
QUOTING COACH CUNNINGHAM
"I thought we made enough plays to win the game, we had a fierce comeback and took the lead but give them credit. Cedric Russell made two big threes on us down the stretch and we had back-to-back empty possessions with the game on the line."
"It was a hard-fought game, we did enough once again to put ourselves in position to win but we just didn't finish and there's nobody feeling sorry for us. We are in a hole and we have to fight our way out of the hole now."
QUICK HITS
- Varnado is the first Troy player to scored 33 points in a game since Musa Abdul-Aleem accomplished the feat against Georgia State on Jan. 10, 2015
- Varnado's 33 points marked his fourth 30-point performance of the season and third in the last four games
- Johnson set a career high with five free-throws made in his 20-point outing
- Varnado and Hicks' double doubles marked the first time this season that two Troy players recorded a double double in the same game
UP NEXT
Troy will be back in action on Saturday when it takes on in-state conference foe South Alabama in Mobile. Tip is set for 5 p.m. with the game broadcast live on ESPN+.
