Troy University Athletics
Thursday, November 7
Troy, Ala.
7 p.m.
Troy University
0-1,0-0Sun Belt
75
vs
76
UAB
-10,00 CUSA
1
2
F
UAB
26
50
76
Troy University
30
45
75
Trojans Drop Wild Last Second Heartbreaker to UAB in Scott Cross’ Debut
11/7/2019 9:49:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – The Troy Trojan men's basketball program dropped a heartbreaking 76-75 decision in front of second-largest crowd in school history Thursday evening at Trojan Arena in the debut of new Troy head coach Scott Cross.
With the Trojans (0-1) leading 75-73, UAB's Makhtar Gueye connected on a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers (1-0) the lead. Junior Darian Adams drove down the court and attempted a floater at the buzzer that came up just short of the mark.
In defeat, Troy received a new career-best 21 points from KJ Simon and 18 points from Ty Gordon and Adams.
After a slow start on the offensive end for both programs that saw multiple lead changes, UAB used a 13-0 run to open up a nine-point lead (24-15) with five minutes and change remaining in the half.
As they did much of the night, the Trojans responded, going on a 15-2 run to close the half with a four-point advantage.
Much like the first-half, the second stanza of Thursday's game was a back-and-forth affair. Behind a Simon 3-pointer the Trojans opened up a five-point lead (45-40) at the first media break of the second-half. UAB would respond following the timeout, answering with a 21-4 run to take a 12-point (61-49) lead with 8:46 remaining.
Behind four clutch 3-pointers from Gordon, Nick Stampley and Adams, Troy put together a 19-3 run to take a 68-64 lead with four minutes and 18 seconds remaining. The game continued to go back-and-forth down the stretch, with the Trojans opening a seven-point lead with two minutes and four seconds remaining.
UAB rode one last run (7-0) to tie the game at 73 all with 44 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing Troy possession, Simon drove down the lane and threw-down a monstrous dunk to give Troy a 75-73 lead and brought the crowd of 5,010 to its feet. Gueye's 3-pointer with just over five seconds remaining proved to be the difference, as UAB escaped with the one point victory.
UP NEXT:
Troy returns to action on Tuesday evening against Chattanooga. Tip-off from Trojan Arena is set for 6 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"Our guys showed a ton of character by coming back tonight. Down the stretch we just ran out of gas. I know our guys wanted that stop and we were in the right position, we just helped too much on the opposite side and left their guy wide open. You have to give UAB and [Gueye] credit. That was a huge shot and a tough shot to hit. We didn't rebound the ball tonight as well as I expected, which was surprising. I was more concerned about us turning the ball over coming into tonight than us getting rebounds. A positive tonight was how we valued the basketball, only turning it over just seven times. As a unit, we just have to get better from this.
"An absolutely amazing atmosphere in there. That crowd, it was so loud in there - Kansas, Wichita State -- that's how loud it was. Hopefully we can recreate it and we can win some games to build some momentum."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Troy and UAB played a nearly identical game to last season's matchup, a 74-73 Trojan victory. Former Trojan Jordon Varnado hit a 17-foot jumpshot with 11 seconds remaining that proved to be the difference.
• The 5,010-person crowd was the second-largest crowd in Trojan arena history. The Trojans drew 5,120 in the inaugural game of Trojan Arena, a 56-54 victory over Mississippi State
• The Trojans turned the ball over seven times all night, including just twice in the second.
• Troy accumulated 19 assists on 28 made baskets for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7.
• Troy didn't attempt a free throw in the first half. The Trojans were 7-11 from the charity stripe in the second half.
• Troy falls to 0-6 all-time against UAB at home.
• Troy coaches are now 1-6 all-time in their Troy debuts.
• Adam's 18 points tonight were a new career-best. His previous career-high was 17 set last season (Feb. 2) against South Alabama.
• Sophomore Zay Williams added four assists tonight which a new career-high for him. His previous high was two set at St. Louis last season (Nov. 10). The forward added eight points and five rebounds.
• Simon also tied his career-high making three 3-pointers. He previous connected on three three's last season (Mar. 9) against Louisiana.
• His 21 points led all scorers.
With the Trojans (0-1) leading 75-73, UAB's Makhtar Gueye connected on a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers (1-0) the lead. Junior Darian Adams drove down the court and attempted a floater at the buzzer that came up just short of the mark.
In defeat, Troy received a new career-best 21 points from KJ Simon and 18 points from Ty Gordon and Adams.
After a slow start on the offensive end for both programs that saw multiple lead changes, UAB used a 13-0 run to open up a nine-point lead (24-15) with five minutes and change remaining in the half.
As they did much of the night, the Trojans responded, going on a 15-2 run to close the half with a four-point advantage.
Much like the first-half, the second stanza of Thursday's game was a back-and-forth affair. Behind a Simon 3-pointer the Trojans opened up a five-point lead (45-40) at the first media break of the second-half. UAB would respond following the timeout, answering with a 21-4 run to take a 12-point (61-49) lead with 8:46 remaining.
Behind four clutch 3-pointers from Gordon, Nick Stampley and Adams, Troy put together a 19-3 run to take a 68-64 lead with four minutes and 18 seconds remaining. The game continued to go back-and-forth down the stretch, with the Trojans opening a seven-point lead with two minutes and four seconds remaining.
UAB rode one last run (7-0) to tie the game at 73 all with 44 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing Troy possession, Simon drove down the lane and threw-down a monstrous dunk to give Troy a 75-73 lead and brought the crowd of 5,010 to its feet. Gueye's 3-pointer with just over five seconds remaining proved to be the difference, as UAB escaped with the one point victory.
UP NEXT:
Troy returns to action on Tuesday evening against Chattanooga. Tip-off from Trojan Arena is set for 6 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"Our guys showed a ton of character by coming back tonight. Down the stretch we just ran out of gas. I know our guys wanted that stop and we were in the right position, we just helped too much on the opposite side and left their guy wide open. You have to give UAB and [Gueye] credit. That was a huge shot and a tough shot to hit. We didn't rebound the ball tonight as well as I expected, which was surprising. I was more concerned about us turning the ball over coming into tonight than us getting rebounds. A positive tonight was how we valued the basketball, only turning it over just seven times. As a unit, we just have to get better from this.
"An absolutely amazing atmosphere in there. That crowd, it was so loud in there - Kansas, Wichita State -- that's how loud it was. Hopefully we can recreate it and we can win some games to build some momentum."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Troy and UAB played a nearly identical game to last season's matchup, a 74-73 Trojan victory. Former Trojan Jordon Varnado hit a 17-foot jumpshot with 11 seconds remaining that proved to be the difference.
• The 5,010-person crowd was the second-largest crowd in Trojan arena history. The Trojans drew 5,120 in the inaugural game of Trojan Arena, a 56-54 victory over Mississippi State
• The Trojans turned the ball over seven times all night, including just twice in the second.
• Troy accumulated 19 assists on 28 made baskets for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7.
• Troy didn't attempt a free throw in the first half. The Trojans were 7-11 from the charity stripe in the second half.
• Troy falls to 0-6 all-time against UAB at home.
• Troy coaches are now 1-6 all-time in their Troy debuts.
• Adam's 18 points tonight were a new career-best. His previous career-high was 17 set last season (Feb. 2) against South Alabama.
• Sophomore Zay Williams added four assists tonight which a new career-high for him. His previous high was two set at St. Louis last season (Nov. 10). The forward added eight points and five rebounds.
• Simon also tied his career-high making three 3-pointers. He previous connected on three three's last season (Mar. 9) against Louisiana.
• His 21 points led all scorers.
Team Stats
UAB
TROY
FG%
.491
.444
3FG%
.474
.429
FT%
.650
.636
RB
45
22
TO
18
7
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Basketball (M)
F
/ Basketball (M)
F
/ Basketball (M)F
/ Basketball (M)Players Postgame Press Conference (Pensacola Christian)
Tuesday, November 11
Scott Cross Postgame Press Conference (Pensacola Christian)
Tuesday, November 11
Tai'Sheka Porchia Interview - Playing Professionally Overseas
Monday, November 10
Gerad Parker Press Conference - ODU Game
Monday, November 10