Cold First Half Hurts Troy at Auburn

Saturday, December 19

Auburn, Ala.

11 a.m.

Troy University

4-4,0-0Sun Belt

Auburn

5-2,0-0SEC

Troy

Auburn

12/19/2020 2:16:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

AUBURN, Ala. -- Despite going on a 9-0 run over the first 4:01 of the second period, the Troy men's basketball team fell 77-41 to Auburn University Saturday at Auburn Arena.

Despite trailing by a large margin for a majority of the game, the Trojans (4-4) did use a 23-11 run to cut what was a 33-point halftime deficit to just 21 points with 9:36 to play.

The turning point of the contest was a 33-3 run that Auburn went on from the 15:40 mark of the first half to the 1:54 mark.

Over that stretch the lone Troy points were a Stampley 3-pointer at the 9:57 mark.

In the loss, senior Nick Stampley led the way for the Trojans, scoring 13 points.

After Auburn scored the first six points of the game, Zay Williams answered with a free throw to put Troy on the board at the 18-minute mark.

Following an Auburn (5-2) layup, Stampley drilled a triple to cut the Tigers lead to just 8-3 with 15:40 to play.

Over the next 5:19, Auburn would hold Troy scoreless, using a 13-0 run to take a 21-3 advantage with 10:21 to play in the opening period.

Another Stampley three stopped the bleeding momentarily, but another 20-0 spurt from the 9:57 mark until the 1:54 mark gave Auburn a commanding 41-6 lead.

A Kam Woods layup and a Miles Mendes dunk brought Troy to within 41-10, before Auburn used one last dunk to take a 43-10 lead at the break.

Following the halftime break, Troy behind and-one layup from Duke Miles and a triple from Kieffer Punter used a 9-0 run to close to within 24 points with 15:59 to play.

The Trojans ultimate run went as high as 23-11, but the Auburn lead went no lower than 21 points down the stretch.

Troy returns to action one week from Monday (Dec. 28) against Carver College. Tip-off from Trojan Arena is set for 6 PM.

HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"Today was definitely not our best performance. Our guys were a little bit shocked in the first half. We saw a pick-and-roll coverage we haven't seen before and that forced us to be very passive. We just didn't execute at all. We didn't show the type of toughness that we have been playing the last couple of games. We got punched in the mouth. I was glad that our guys responded in the second half and played with a bit of toughness and grit. We got a few stops defensively and were able to get some easy offense in transition. I challenged the guys at the half and asked frankly who wanted to play because in the first half it didn't appear that we were excited to play basketball. We cannot take any game for granted because you never know when it can be taken away. Our guys did respond in the second half and our starters did a good job of getting us back on track. At least we competed in the second half."