Defensive Effort, Early Second Half Run Propels Troy to First Ever Victory at Texas State

Monday, January 6

San Marcos, Texas

7 p.m.

Troy University

6-10,2-3Sun Bel

Texas State

8-8,1-4Sun Belt

TROY

Texas St.

Defensive Effort, Early Second Half Run Propels Troy to First Ever Victory at Texas State

1/6/2020 10:28:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

SAN MARCOS, Texas --The Troy Trojans used a strong second half to defeat the Texas State Bobcats Monday evening at Strahan Arena. The win, Troy's first ever victory in San Marcos, snapped a three-game Sun Belt Conference losing streak for the Trojans.

Troy shot 15-of-25 (60 percent) in the second half of action and held the Bobcats to just 11-of-34 (32.4 percent).

After trailing 26-23 with 1:27 left in the first half, the Trojans (6-10, 2-3 Sun Belt) used a 23-8 outburst over the next nine minutes of game action to take a 12-point advantage with 14 minutes to play.

Despite a furious Bobcats (8-8, 1-4 Sun Belt Conference) comeback that cut the Troy lead to one possession on three different occasions, a pair of clutch baskets and free throws from Zay Williams gave the Trojans a six-point advantage with 34 ticks left.

All five Troy starters recorded at least six points and recorded at least a positive 10 +/- for the ballgame.

Junior Ty Gordon contributed 16 points, five assists and three steals, while Darian Adams contributed 15 second half points, six assists and four rebounds.

Troy and Texas State both started the contest strong on the defensive end, as the teams combined for just 19 points over the first eight minutes of action.

Looking to seize control of the game, the Bobcats used an 8-0 outburst to take a seven-point (16-9) lead with 10:47 remaining in the first half.

The Trojans responded over the next eight minutes, using a 14-7 outburst to tie the contest with 2:26 left in the half.

After a Nijal Pearson three gave the Bobcats a 26-23 lead, the Trojans used a pair of 3-pointers by Desmond Williams and Gordon to take a 29-28 advantage into the locker room at the break.

Following intermission, the Trojans got hot from the floor, outscoring Texas State 14-4 over the first 3:29 minutes behind four 3-pointers.

A Darian Adams 3-pointers with 14:00 left gave 46-34 advantage, but the Bobcats used a 7-0 run to cut the Trojan lead to just 46-41 with 11:42 left.

After a Nick Stampley hook-shot gave Troy an eight point (54-46) lead with 7:17 remaining, Texas State used one last 8-2 run to cut the Troy lead to just two with 4:31 left in the game.

Down the stretch the Trojans and Bobcats continued to battle, with neither side enjoying more than a five-point lead.

With Troy leading just 61-59, Zay Williams took over, hitting back-to-back shots in the paint that gave the Trojans a 65-59 advantage with 43 ticks left.

After Pearson was fouled and hit one free throw, Zay Williams nailed a pair of free throws that gave Troy a seven-point advantage with 37 seconds left.

On the next Texas State possession, Pearson missed a 3-pointer, and Adams found a streaking Jakevan Leftridge who threw down a monstrous dunk that sealed the victory for Troy.

The Trojans led the entire second half, and outscored Texas State 42-35 in the second half.

Troy returns to action Thursday night when Little Rock visits Trojan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"We switched it up a bit in the locker room at halftime. I think sometimes coaches get in a routine and we over coach them. I told them they could do whatever they thought was best for them individually at halftime. A few of our guys wanted to listen to music and a couple of guys decided they wanted to stay loose and jump rope. Then I addressed the team for maybe a minute and a half. We're doing the right things, we just needed to get the results. We needed this one really badly and the guys got it done. We played really hard, maybe the hardest we've played all year. It was a great team win."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Troy improves to 5-1 this season when holding teams under 65 points. The lone setback was at Texas A&M (56-52).
• Adams scored all 15 of his points in the second half and was 5-9 from the floor (5-of-8 3-point). He recorded his 12^th game of at least 10 points this season, and has now scored at least 10 points in 25 games.
• The junior recorded his eighth game with at least three helpers.
• The Trojans were previously 0-5 all-time in San Marcos.
• Texas State outscored Troy 20-4 on second chance opportunities.
• Troy's starters were a combined +77 tonight.
• Troy was six-of-12 from 3-point range in the second half.
• The Trojans shot six-of-seven from the free-throw line in the second half.
• Gordon has scored at least 10 points in five of his last six games and averaged 16.7 points-per-game this trip (50 total points).
• The Trojans led for 27:02 seconds tonight, and the entire second half.
• Troy is now 2-7 this season when getting outrebounded.
• The Trojans are 5-2 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
• Freshman Des Williams pounced back tonight with 13 points. He scored just five the first two games of the road trip. The Trojans are 3-1 when he reaches double figures.