Troy Returns Home for Contest Against First Place Little Rock

TROY, Ala. -- The Troy Trojans men's basketball program returns to Trojan Arena for the first time since Dec. 21, Thursday night for a 6 p.m. contest with Little Rock.

Thursday's matchup will be Troy's fourth game in a week and one of 10 January matchups for the Trojans.

Troy returns to action Saturday afternoon at Arkansas State. Tip-off from Jonesboro is set for 4 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT- (Troy- 6-10, 2-3 Sun Belt)
The Trojans look build of the momentum earned from Monday's victory over Texas State. In that game, the Trojans outscored the Bobcats 42-35 for the first ever victory in San Marcos. Troy shot 50 percent from the field (26-of-52) for the game, and 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor in the second half. After taking a lead (29-28) into the break for the sixth consecutive contest, the Trojans opened the second half on fire, hitting their first five shots from the floor. Troy scored 14 points over the first three minutes and 29 seconds of the half and connected on four consecutive 3-pointers to open the half. Dating back to the first half, Troy hit seven straight from the floor, and six straight from behind the 3-point arc. On Monday, junior Ty Gordon poured in a Troy best 16 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, while Darian Adams used five 3-point field goals to score 15 points. Adams added six assists, four rebounds and turned the ball over just once. Sophomore Zay Williams scored six points over the final two minutes, including a pair of free throws. The Trojans improved to 6-1 this season when holding an opponent below 65.

LAST TIME OUT- (Little Rock- 11-5, 5-0 Sun Belt)
The Little Rock Trojans enter Thursday's matchup at Troy having won a season-best six straight contests overall and five straight to open Sun Belt Conference action. A victory on Thursday, would give Little Rock its best Sun Belt start (6-0) in program history. The 2015-16 Trojans also began SBC play 5-0, before finishing the season with a 30-5 record overall, and a 17-3 Sun Belt record. That season, Little Rock won both the SBC regular season and the postseason tournament, advancing to the NCAA tournament where they upset 5^th seed Purdue, 85-83. Little Rock's last loss occurred Dec. 7 at Texas State. The winning streak began three days later with an 86-82 victory over Tennessee State. Nine days later the Trojans opened Sun Belt Conference play with a pair of victories at ULM (73-72) and at Louisiana (69-66). In the matchup at ULM, Little Rock sophomore Markquis Nowell hit a shot from nearly 40-feet to give the Trojans a one-point advantage with three ticks reaming. Nowell poured in 33 points on an efficient 11-of-21 shooting from the floor and 8-of-14 from behind the 3-point arc. The Trojans opened a three-game homestand to begin 2020 last weekend, defeating Texas State (72-68), UT Arlington (92-89) and Georgia Southern (79-73). So far this season, Little Rock is 7-2 in games decided by six-points or fewer, and is unbeaten over the last six games that are decided by two possessions or fewer. Nowell currently leads the Trojans in points (18.8), assists (4.5) and free-throw percentage (.862). His 18.8 points-per-game is the second-best mark in the Sun Belt Conference. Four Trojans are averaging double-figures including big man Ruot Monyyong who is averaging 11.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Monyyong has recorded a double-double in eight times this season and has at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in four straight. His 9.9 rebounds a game are the most in the Sun Belt and are the 11^th most in the country. Little Rock has already surpassed its win total (10) from a season ago and needs just one more conference victory to pass last season's SBC win total.

Trojan Storylines
• Four Trojans reached double-figures on Monday led by Gordon and Adams. Freshman Desmond Williams (13 points) and Zay Williams (12 points) were the other two Trojans to record at least 10 points.
• Thursday's matchup is Troy's fourth game in eight days. After Saturday's matchup at Arkansas State, Troy will have opened 2020 with five contests in 10 days, all in different cities. The Trojans play 10 games in the month of January and 11 times in 31 days (Jan. 2-Feb. 1).
• Through the quarter mark of the Sun Belt season, the Trojans currently sit in a four-way tie for seventh place in the Sun Belt standings. Nine of the 12 teams in the Sun Belt are 3-2 or 2-3, with just one game separating teams two through 10.
• The Trojans are playing their first game at Trojan Arena in 19 days. Troy last played a home game back on Dec. 21st against App State. The Trojans play three of their next four at Trojan Arena and four of the next six.
• The Trojans just completed the longest and most daunting road trip of the season. The seven-day 2,000 mile trip took the Trojans to Monroe, Lafayette and San Marcos.
• On Monday night, the Trojans earned the programs first ever victory in San Marcos. Troy was previously 0-5 at Texas State all-time. In that contest, Troy outscored Texas State 42-35 in the second half of the ballgame. In the second half, Troy shot 60 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range.
• Troy has drawn 44 total charges this season through 16 games (2.9-per- game). The Trojans have drawn at least one charge 14 of 16 games. The Trojans failed to draw a charge Monday night at Texas State
• The Trojans are 6-1 this season when holding teams to fewer than 65 points. Troy's lone loss when holding a team below that mark was at Texas A&M (56-52, loss). Conversely, the Trojans are 0-8 when allowing more than 70 points.
• The Trojans have led at the half in 10 of 15 games this season. Troy is outscoring its opponents 526-483 (+43) in the first half this season. Troy's 45 first half points against App State were the most Troy has scored in a first half this season.

Promotions:
• Family 4-pack: Four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks and a bucket of popcorn for $20 (offer valid until Noon Thursday).
• Student Lounge: Free Chick-Fill-A sandwiches for the first 300 students and 200 free 'Take The Stairs' tee-shirts.
• Troy Cheer: Fans will get a sneak-peak at Troy's routine for nationals.

Broadcast Information
ESPN +: Barry McKnight (PBP) and Jerry Miller (Color)
Live Audio: TroyTrojans.com/watch
Radio: Doug Amos on the Troy Sports Radio Network

One to Watch
Sophomore Zay Williams returned to form Monday night at Texas State, scoring 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Critical down the stretch, Zay scored eight of his 12 points in the second half. The forward contributed six points in the final two minutes to ice Troy's second Sun Belt Conference victory of the season and snap a three-game skid. On the season, the Birmingham native is averaging 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

Troy Returns Home for Contest Against First Place Little Rock

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Players Mentioned

Darian Adams

Ty Gordon

Desmond Williams

Zay Williams

Troy University Athletics