Troy Falls In Conference Opener

Thursday, January 3

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

7-6, 0-1

Coastal Carolina

7-6, 1-0

Coastal Carolina

Troy

1/3/2019 9:13:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

Troy, Ala. – Troy could not find a groove from behind the arc and fell to hot shooting Coastal Carolina, 88-75 in both teams' Sun Belt Conference men's basketball opener inside of Trojan Arena on Thursday night.

The Chanticleers (7-6, 1-0 SBC) snapped the Trojans' (7-6, 0-1 SBC) four-game win streak after shooting a blistering 60 percent (15-of-25) from three and 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the field.

Junior Charles Norman led the Trojans with a career-high tying 16 points including a career-high seven free throws while senior BJ Miller posted 12 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Junior Devante Foster notched his first start and scored a career-high 11 points with five rebounds and three blocks, all of which were his career highs.

Troy trailed by 16 (27-11) in the first half with 8:20 remaining but brought the score within five over the next five minutes, 32-27. Coastal would close the half on a 12-5 run and never let up its lead in the second half to hold off Troy.

The Chanticleers posted five players in double figures led by Tyrell Gumbs-Frater with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from behind the arc.

QUOTING COACH CUNNINGHAM
"We had a lot of momentum heading into this game and it certainly got taken out of us tonight. I didn't think we were at our best tonight but give them credit because they were really good tonight and we knew that coming in to this game."

QUICK HITS
- Troy's nine blocked shots, three of which coming from Foster, mark a season high
- Coastal's 21 personal fouls are the most by an opponent this season
- Senior Alex Hicks nearly posted his third consecutive double double in eight points and 10 rebounds

UP NEXT
The Trojans will wrap up their homestand with a conference bout against Appalachian State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Mountaineers dropped their conference opener to South Alabama, 79-73 on Thursday. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.