Troy University Athletics
Saturday, December 21
Troy, Ala.
2 p.m.
Troy University
5-8,1-1Sun Belt
65
vs
70
Appalachian State
8-4,2-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Appalachian St.
39
31
70
TROY
45
20
65
Photo by: Chris Davis
Trojans Drop Second Half Heartbreaker to App State
12/21/2019 5:16:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. -- Despite enjoying a lead for 32 minutes and 11 seconds, the Troy Trojans men's basketball program fell 70-65 to Appalachian State University at Trojan Arena Saturday afternoon.
The Trojans (5-8, 1-1 Sun Belt) led App State (8-4, 2-0 Sun Belt) 61-49 with 13:18 remaining in the ballgame, but a 21-4 run by App State handed the Trojans their first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season.
In defeat, four different Trojans scored in double-figures led by Darian Adams (13 points) and Charles Norman (12 points).
The loss snapped a four-game home winning streak for the Trojans, the longest streak a Troy team has compiled since 2017 (Feb. 18-Mar. 4).
Troy opened the game Saturday afternoon on a 10-3 run over the first two minutes and 53 second of play, to take a seven-point advantage.
After an 18-7 outburst gave the Mountaineers a four-point cushion (21-17) with 9:36 left in the half, the Trojans outscored App State 28-18 down the stretch to take a 45-39 lead into the halftime break.
Troy hit eight 3-pointers in the first stanza and converted all nine free-throws they attempted. The Trojans shot 8-of-16 from behind the arc in the period.
Following intermission, App State scored the first two baskets to cut the Troy advantage to just 45-43 with 18:24 remaining.
Following the App State surge, the Trojans scored 12 of the next 14 points to take a 12-point advantage with 14:18 remaining in the game.
After a pair of App State free throws cut the Troy lead to 10, Zay Williams connected on a field goal with 13:18 remaining that gave the Trojans a 12-point lead.
Then the shots stopped falling.
A Ty Gordon floater gave the Trojans a 65-63 advantage with 3:27 remaining in the game, but Troy didn't find the bottom of the basket the rest of the game.
The Trojans had opportunities down the stretch, including a possession with 2:28 left and the score tied at 65, but a deep Justin Forrest (25 points) triple gave App State a three-point advantage with 1:45 remaining.
App State connected on just two-of-six free-throws down the stretch, but the Trojans couldn't take advantage, missing their final five shots after the Gordon runner. In total, the Trojans missed 17 of their final 18 shots, as App State rode the 21-4 run to a five-point victory.
The Trojans return to action on Jan. 2, at Sun Belt foe ULM. Tip-off from Monroe is scheduled for 7 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"There are two plays that stuck out to me today. The first one was a loose ball when we were up seven. There were two different guys who could have dove on the floor and gotten the ball. Instead App dove on the ball and hit a shot. That was a huge play. Then when we were down three at the very end of the game, they missed a free-throw and we allowed a long offensive to rebound. App State was tougher than we were down the stretch, both mentally and physically. We missed countless layups and missed some open shots. They made it tough for us on the defensive end, and then they finished on the offensive end. You have to credit App State. They turned in one of the best defensive performances of the year against us. So we just have to find a way to continue to get better. We have a couple of guys who are banged up, and having three days off should help for that. We'll return after the Christmas holiday and take a week to prepare for the first road trip of 2020, which is going to feature three games, in tough environments, in a short amount of time. It would have been much nicer to head into that stretch 2-0 atop the league. But now we just need to get back to work and find a way to the games on the road."
On Troy's cold shooting down the stretch:
"Once App State started to make some shots our guys definitely felt the pressure on the offensive end. We spend time with our guys going over mental training exercises that focus on blocking out adversity. There were definitely a couple of times down the stretch where we passed up an open shot and turned the ball over later in the possession. You can't pass up open shots against a good defensive team. But you have to credit App State for making the plays that won them the game."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Troy falls to 3-2 when at least four players reach double figures. Troy started the year 3-0 (Carver, Shorter and North Alabama) when four players reached double figures.
• The Trojans fall to 0-7 when allowing 70 points or more in a game this season.
• Zay Williams scored 10 points and added six rebounds. It's the fifth consecutive game where the forward has reached double-figures.
• Adams tallied his 10th game this season with at least 10 points. The junior has scored 59 points in his last four games (14.8 points-per-game).
• The Trojans were a perfect 12-for-12 from the line today. It was the seventh consecutive game that Troy has shot at least 70 percent.
• Today was the first time a Troy team was perfect from the free-throw line since Troy was 9-for-9 at Texas State back on Jan. 6, 2018.
• Troy recorded at least 10 offensive rebounds for the 11th time this season.
• The Trojans assisted on 11 of 14 made baskets in the first half, and on 16 of 21 total baskets.
• Troy connected on just three of 13 layup attempts.
The Trojans (5-8, 1-1 Sun Belt) led App State (8-4, 2-0 Sun Belt) 61-49 with 13:18 remaining in the ballgame, but a 21-4 run by App State handed the Trojans their first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season.
In defeat, four different Trojans scored in double-figures led by Darian Adams (13 points) and Charles Norman (12 points).
The loss snapped a four-game home winning streak for the Trojans, the longest streak a Troy team has compiled since 2017 (Feb. 18-Mar. 4).
Troy opened the game Saturday afternoon on a 10-3 run over the first two minutes and 53 second of play, to take a seven-point advantage.
After an 18-7 outburst gave the Mountaineers a four-point cushion (21-17) with 9:36 left in the half, the Trojans outscored App State 28-18 down the stretch to take a 45-39 lead into the halftime break.
Troy hit eight 3-pointers in the first stanza and converted all nine free-throws they attempted. The Trojans shot 8-of-16 from behind the arc in the period.
Following intermission, App State scored the first two baskets to cut the Troy advantage to just 45-43 with 18:24 remaining.
Following the App State surge, the Trojans scored 12 of the next 14 points to take a 12-point advantage with 14:18 remaining in the game.
After a pair of App State free throws cut the Troy lead to 10, Zay Williams connected on a field goal with 13:18 remaining that gave the Trojans a 12-point lead.
Then the shots stopped falling.
A Ty Gordon floater gave the Trojans a 65-63 advantage with 3:27 remaining in the game, but Troy didn't find the bottom of the basket the rest of the game.
The Trojans had opportunities down the stretch, including a possession with 2:28 left and the score tied at 65, but a deep Justin Forrest (25 points) triple gave App State a three-point advantage with 1:45 remaining.
App State connected on just two-of-six free-throws down the stretch, but the Trojans couldn't take advantage, missing their final five shots after the Gordon runner. In total, the Trojans missed 17 of their final 18 shots, as App State rode the 21-4 run to a five-point victory.
The Trojans return to action on Jan. 2, at Sun Belt foe ULM. Tip-off from Monroe is scheduled for 7 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"There are two plays that stuck out to me today. The first one was a loose ball when we were up seven. There were two different guys who could have dove on the floor and gotten the ball. Instead App dove on the ball and hit a shot. That was a huge play. Then when we were down three at the very end of the game, they missed a free-throw and we allowed a long offensive to rebound. App State was tougher than we were down the stretch, both mentally and physically. We missed countless layups and missed some open shots. They made it tough for us on the defensive end, and then they finished on the offensive end. You have to credit App State. They turned in one of the best defensive performances of the year against us. So we just have to find a way to continue to get better. We have a couple of guys who are banged up, and having three days off should help for that. We'll return after the Christmas holiday and take a week to prepare for the first road trip of 2020, which is going to feature three games, in tough environments, in a short amount of time. It would have been much nicer to head into that stretch 2-0 atop the league. But now we just need to get back to work and find a way to the games on the road."
On Troy's cold shooting down the stretch:
"Once App State started to make some shots our guys definitely felt the pressure on the offensive end. We spend time with our guys going over mental training exercises that focus on blocking out adversity. There were definitely a couple of times down the stretch where we passed up an open shot and turned the ball over later in the possession. You can't pass up open shots against a good defensive team. But you have to credit App State for making the plays that won them the game."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Troy falls to 3-2 when at least four players reach double figures. Troy started the year 3-0 (Carver, Shorter and North Alabama) when four players reached double figures.
• The Trojans fall to 0-7 when allowing 70 points or more in a game this season.
• Zay Williams scored 10 points and added six rebounds. It's the fifth consecutive game where the forward has reached double-figures.
• Adams tallied his 10th game this season with at least 10 points. The junior has scored 59 points in his last four games (14.8 points-per-game).
• The Trojans were a perfect 12-for-12 from the line today. It was the seventh consecutive game that Troy has shot at least 70 percent.
• Today was the first time a Troy team was perfect from the free-throw line since Troy was 9-for-9 at Texas State back on Jan. 6, 2018.
• Troy recorded at least 10 offensive rebounds for the 11th time this season.
• The Trojans assisted on 11 of 14 made baskets in the first half, and on 16 of 21 total baskets.
• Troy connected on just three of 13 layup attempts.
Team Stats
APP
TROY
FG%
.453
.318
3FG%
.333
.367
FT%
.577
1.000
RB
37
43
TO
9
13
STL
10
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Basketball (M)
G
/ Basketball (M)F
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