Troy Closes 2020 with Dominant Victory Over Carver College

Monday, December 28

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

5-4,0-0Sun Belt

Carver

0-17

Carver

Troy

Troy Closes 2020 with Dominant Victory Over Carver College

12/28/2020 9:15:00 PM | Basketball (M)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. -- The Troy basketball program closed 2020 and its non-conference schedule in style Monday night, earning a dominant 88-35 victory over the Carver College Cougars at Trojan Arena.

In total, 12 different Trojans (5-4) reached the score sheet led by Nick Stampley and Zay Williams. Stampley's 17 rebounds were a career-high and combined with his 16 points gave the senior his third double-double of the season. Williams' 15 points mark the sixth time in nine games that the forward has scored at least 10 points in a game.

For the contest, Troy shot an efficient 35-for-66 (53 percent) and outrebounded Carver 53-29.

After the Cougars (0-22) won the opening tip and Bryson Scott nailed a triple, the Trojans used a 15-0 run over the next 5:06 of action to open a 15-3 lead with 14:30 to play in the period. The outburst was sparked by five points from Zay and a Stampley triple.

Carver and Troy split the next 20 points, as Troy lead 25-13 with 8:23 to play in the opening period.

From that point on, the Trojans scored 18 of the next 20 to take a 43-15 advantage into the break. Highlights from the outburst included five key points from Desmond Williams and an exclamation point dunk from Rory Pantophlet.

Following the halftime break, The Trojans used a quick 17-4 outburst to take a decisive 62-19 lead with 12:53 to play. The run was capped by freshman Marquel Bryant's first career points.

Over the next five minutes, Carver answered with 12-8 run to cut the Troy lead to 75-31 with 6:25 to play.

Over the final 6:25, the Trojans held Carver to just four points. The biggest highlight from the span was a 3-pointer from freshman Nick O'Brien with just 90 seconds to play.

Troy returns to action Friday night for the Sun Belt Conference opener at App State. Tip-off from Boone is set for 5 p.m. Central.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
• Coach Scott Cross missed tonight's game due to a health issue in his immediate family.
• Cross is expected to return for Troy's weekend series at App State.
• With the victory tonight, Trojan Arena remains a perfect during the 2020-21 school year. Troy volleyball
• Stampley finished just three rebounds shy of the Trojans first 20 rebound game since Fred Spencer back in 1996.
• Stampley's 17 rebounds are the most by a Trojan since Jordan Varnardo grabbed 15 at St. Louis in 2018 (Nov. 10).
• The forward recorded his third double-double of the season, and his fourth career double-double.
• Troy recorded a season-best 15 assists.
• The Trojans have allowed just 137 points over the last five games. Troy held Carver to just 20 points in the second half tonight.
• Carver hit just 14 field goals Monday night. It's Troy's second sub-15 field goal defensive performance of the season.
• Troy outscored Carver 58-8 in the paint.
• O'Brien saw three minutes and 17 seconds of action. It was his first appearance of his Troy career.

ACTING HEAD COACH KENNETH MANGRUM:
"We told our guys before the game that tonight was about Troy playing Troy, not Carver. We set specific goals that we hit. We had 16 kills tonight (three stops in-a-row on defense) and held them to 23 percent shooting which was way below the 38 percent goal that we set. We also wanted to outrebound them by at least 15, and we outrebounded them by 24. We were able to hit our goals and young guys that haven't had a chance to play were able to get in and shine."

On Nick Stampley's performance:
"Nick is a gritty player and he's able to rebound the ball because of his heart and determination. Nick knows that when we miss a shot it's his job to go and get it. Tonight, Carver didn't box him out and he was able to get some free rebounds. And then at times we went up and grabbed them like a grown man. I think half of his points tonight we off of rebounds."