Troy University Athletics
Saturday, January 18
Troy, Ala.
2 p.m.
Troy University
8-12,4-5Sun Bel
75
vs
65
Georgia State
13-7,6-3Sun Bel
1
2
F
Georgia St.
33
32
65
Troy
33
42
75
Photo by: Chris Davis
Gordon, Simon Push Trojans to Victory Over First Place Georgia State
1/18/2020 6:03:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. -- The Troy Trojans men's basketball program behind a career-high 20 points from Ty Gordon and 16 points from KJ Simon defeated Georgia State University Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena.
In the victory, four Trojans (8-12, 4-5 Sun Belt Conference) Trojans reached double figures led by Gordon (20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists), Simon (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists) and Desmond Williams (13 points, 6 rebounds).
Troy outscored the Panthers (13-7, 6-3 SBC) 42-32 in the second period, using a 12-2 run to take a nine-point advantage over GSU with 2:09 remaining.
The Trojans made five key free throws over the final minute to seal the program's six victory in its last eight games at Trojan Arena.
For the second consecutive game, the Trojans got off to a quick start on Saturday, using a 10-2 run to take a 10-5 lead over the Panthers at the 16:21 mark of the first half.
After Georgia State answered with a 17-8 run to take a 22-18 lead with 9:29 remaining in the half, the Trojans countered with a 9-1 outburst that gave the home side a 27-23 advantage with 4:11 left in the half.
Following a mini 4-0 Panthers run tied the game at 27-27, Troy and GSU traded 3-pointers that sent the game to the break tied at 33 all.
After Georgia State scored eight of the first 10 points to take a 41-35 advantage with 15:03 left, the Trojans, behind 3-pointers from Simon and Williams used an 8-2 run to tie the game at 43-43 with 12:10 left.
The Panthers looked to be in control of the ball game a few minutes later, as a 12-7 run put the visitors up by five (55-50) with 7:43 left. Over next four minutes, Troy responded once again, using one last 17-8 run to take a 67-58 lead with 2:09 left in the game.
Georgia State did cut the Troy lead to just 68-62 with 1:41 left, but the Trojans held the potent GSU attack to just two points over the final 100 seconds of the game, to defeat the Panthers by 10 points.
Troy returns to action Wednesday evening at Little Rock. Tip-off from the Jack Stephens Center is set for 6:30 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"I couldn't be prouder of our guys, because this was one of our most complete games of the year. What we did tonight was so hard to do. We went out on Thursday and to be quite honest we didn't play the way we're capable of, and after the game I didn't think embodied our core values. Today, we walked into film five minutes early, and DA [Darian Adams] had the entire team in the film room ready to go. Usually guys trickle in separately, but it was great to see our entire team there early at 8:15 a.m. this morning. I knew right away that DA was the reason our guys were there early, and I think it set the tone for this game against the best all-around team in the league outside of our group. We did a great job and our guys stuck to the game plan which made it very difficult for Georgia State to get good looks. Nick Stampley and Tree [Davion Thomas] did a great job on the ball-screen coverages. And then we hit shots down the stretch. KJ got the game ball for tonight because he was awesome today, which was awesome to see. KJ played like this against UAB, but then he had a little stretch where he struggled. To see him back and playing the way he did today is a huge boost for us."
KJ Simon:
"I knew I just needed to keep working. When Jakevan went down I knew that someone needed to step up. I've been in a bit of a slump the last two months, but I continued to stay in the gym and work on my shot. I kept my faith and I came every night and worked on my shot. Today, I just tried to stay focused and make the right basketball play. Our performance down the stretch today should give this team a lot of confidence. We beat the best team in the Sun Belt today which proves we can play with any team in this league if we play the way we're supposed to. We're not the deepest team right now, but we're trying to be the hardest working and toughest team."
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
• Simon was a game-high +16 on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore shot 6-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point range.
• Georgia State senior Damon Wilson received a pair of technical fouls just 64 seconds apart and was ejected from the ballgame.
• Troy hit 12 3-pointers on Saturday.
• The Trojans have now hit 53 3-pointers in their last five games.
• Darian Adams added nine rebounds on Saturday. The junior has now recorded at least four rebounds in seven consecutive games.
• Sophomore Tahj Small scored 10 points for the second time in three games.
• The Trojans outrebounded Georgia State 43-38. Saturday was the first time Troy won a Sun Belt Conference game and recorded more rebounds than the opposition.
• Of Simon's nine rebounds, four came on the offensive end.
• Troy improves to 6-2 all-time against Georgia State in Trojan Arena.
• The Trojans defeated the Panthers at Trojan Arena for the third consecutive season.
• Troy recorded 18 assists on 25 made baskets.
• The Trojans recorded an assist on nine of 13 second half baskets.
• Gordon has now recorded at least four assists in five consecutive games.
In the victory, four Trojans (8-12, 4-5 Sun Belt Conference) Trojans reached double figures led by Gordon (20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists), Simon (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists) and Desmond Williams (13 points, 6 rebounds).
Troy outscored the Panthers (13-7, 6-3 SBC) 42-32 in the second period, using a 12-2 run to take a nine-point advantage over GSU with 2:09 remaining.
The Trojans made five key free throws over the final minute to seal the program's six victory in its last eight games at Trojan Arena.
For the second consecutive game, the Trojans got off to a quick start on Saturday, using a 10-2 run to take a 10-5 lead over the Panthers at the 16:21 mark of the first half.
After Georgia State answered with a 17-8 run to take a 22-18 lead with 9:29 remaining in the half, the Trojans countered with a 9-1 outburst that gave the home side a 27-23 advantage with 4:11 left in the half.
Following a mini 4-0 Panthers run tied the game at 27-27, Troy and GSU traded 3-pointers that sent the game to the break tied at 33 all.
After Georgia State scored eight of the first 10 points to take a 41-35 advantage with 15:03 left, the Trojans, behind 3-pointers from Simon and Williams used an 8-2 run to tie the game at 43-43 with 12:10 left.
The Panthers looked to be in control of the ball game a few minutes later, as a 12-7 run put the visitors up by five (55-50) with 7:43 left. Over next four minutes, Troy responded once again, using one last 17-8 run to take a 67-58 lead with 2:09 left in the game.
Georgia State did cut the Troy lead to just 68-62 with 1:41 left, but the Trojans held the potent GSU attack to just two points over the final 100 seconds of the game, to defeat the Panthers by 10 points.
Troy returns to action Wednesday evening at Little Rock. Tip-off from the Jack Stephens Center is set for 6:30 p.m.
HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"I couldn't be prouder of our guys, because this was one of our most complete games of the year. What we did tonight was so hard to do. We went out on Thursday and to be quite honest we didn't play the way we're capable of, and after the game I didn't think embodied our core values. Today, we walked into film five minutes early, and DA [Darian Adams] had the entire team in the film room ready to go. Usually guys trickle in separately, but it was great to see our entire team there early at 8:15 a.m. this morning. I knew right away that DA was the reason our guys were there early, and I think it set the tone for this game against the best all-around team in the league outside of our group. We did a great job and our guys stuck to the game plan which made it very difficult for Georgia State to get good looks. Nick Stampley and Tree [Davion Thomas] did a great job on the ball-screen coverages. And then we hit shots down the stretch. KJ got the game ball for tonight because he was awesome today, which was awesome to see. KJ played like this against UAB, but then he had a little stretch where he struggled. To see him back and playing the way he did today is a huge boost for us."
KJ Simon:
"I knew I just needed to keep working. When Jakevan went down I knew that someone needed to step up. I've been in a bit of a slump the last two months, but I continued to stay in the gym and work on my shot. I kept my faith and I came every night and worked on my shot. Today, I just tried to stay focused and make the right basketball play. Our performance down the stretch today should give this team a lot of confidence. We beat the best team in the Sun Belt today which proves we can play with any team in this league if we play the way we're supposed to. We're not the deepest team right now, but we're trying to be the hardest working and toughest team."
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
• Simon was a game-high +16 on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore shot 6-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point range.
• Georgia State senior Damon Wilson received a pair of technical fouls just 64 seconds apart and was ejected from the ballgame.
• Troy hit 12 3-pointers on Saturday.
• The Trojans have now hit 53 3-pointers in their last five games.
• Darian Adams added nine rebounds on Saturday. The junior has now recorded at least four rebounds in seven consecutive games.
• Sophomore Tahj Small scored 10 points for the second time in three games.
• The Trojans outrebounded Georgia State 43-38. Saturday was the first time Troy won a Sun Belt Conference game and recorded more rebounds than the opposition.
• Of Simon's nine rebounds, four came on the offensive end.
• Troy improves to 6-2 all-time against Georgia State in Trojan Arena.
• The Trojans defeated the Panthers at Trojan Arena for the third consecutive season.
• Troy recorded 18 assists on 25 made baskets.
• The Trojans recorded an assist on nine of 13 second half baskets.
• Gordon has now recorded at least four assists in five consecutive games.
Team Stats
GSU
TROY
FG%
.354
.424
3FG%
.310
.429
FT%
.714
.650
RB
38
43
TO
15
17
STL
2
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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F
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