Early Second Half Run not Enough, as Troy Falls to UNCW

Saturday, November 28

Asheville, N.C.

12 p.m.

Troy University

1-1,0-0Sun Belt

UNCW

2-1,0-0CAA

UNCW

Troy

Early Second Half Run not Enough, as Troy Falls to UNCW

11/28/2020 3:43:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Despite cutting a 16-point first half deficit to just seven points (46-39) with 14:14 left to play, the Troy Trojans basketball program fell to the UNCW Seahawks Saturday afternoon at Kimmel Arena in the Trojans final contest of the Mako Medical Asheville Classic.

In the opener of the MTE (Multi-Team Event), Troy defeated Western Carolina 66-64.

The turning point of the contest, was a 21-1 from the 14:14 mark to the 5:17 mark. A span of nearly nine minutes.

In defeat, sophomore Desmond Williams scored a Troy (1-1) best 15 points while Kam Woods and Zay Williams each scored eight.

Junior Jaylen Sims led the way for the Seahawks (2-1), scoring 29 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting. Sims hit six-of-eight 3-point attempts.

After the Trojans raced out to an early 9-5 lead over the first seven minutes, UNCW answered with a 22-4 run over the next seven minutes of game action to take a 27-13 lead with 7:43 left in the opening period. The run featured six 3-point made field goals in-a-row.

A Kieffer Punter and-one opportunity cut the Seahawks advantage to just 11 (27-16) on the next Troy possession, but UNCW would score 15 of the next 26 to take a 42-27 advantage with 1:35 to play.

Dez Williams' driving layup with 68 seconds to play in the period was the final points for either side as Troy faced a 42-29 deficit at the break.

Following halftime, the Trojans were able to score eight of the first 12 points to cut the Seahawks advantage to just 46-37 at the under-16 media timeout.

After he hit a three before the media timeout, Woods picked Brian Tolefree's pass and was fouled. The freshman hit both free throw attempts to cut the UNCW lead to just 46-39.

With all of the momentum, the Trojans forced a defensive stop, but missed a pair of 3-pointers and a layup on the ensuing offensive possession.

From the 13:25 mark of the second half to the 5:17 mark, Troy was outscored 21-1 as UNCW opened a game-high 67-39 advantage.

Down the stretch, Dez Williams hit a pair of 3-pointers, as Troy scored 11 of the final 17.

The Trojans return to action Wednesday afternoon at Wake Forest. Tip off from Winston Salem is set for 3 p.m. Central on ACC Network.

HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"Well today's result is our first bit of adversity this season. Now it's all about how we respond. We definitely didn't play our best basketball and we didn't do a good job of defending their ball screens. Our communication wasn't anywhere near as strong as it was yesterday against Western Carolina. We've got a lot of video from this that will show us opportunities for us to get better. Our guys still played hard, we just didn't play with the same grit and determination. They got us out of what we do offensively, and I have to give them credit for doing that and imposing their will on us."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• UNCW outscored Troy 30-3 behind the arc in the first half.
• Woods and Dez Williams went a combined 5-of-11 from behind the arc. The rest of the Trojans were 0-7.
• Marquel Bryant and Quinnus Fletcher made their Troy debuts.
• Zay Williams grabbed nine rebounds for the second consecutive game.
• After combining for 35 points Friday, Kam and Zay combined for just 16.
• Khalyl Waters scored all seven of his points in the first half.
• Troy shot just 16-of-54 from the field (29.6 percent).