Trojans Host ULM Thursday for Crucial Sun Belt Matchup

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TROY, Ala. -- Currently tied with Louisiana for the final Sun Belt Conference playoff spot, the Troy Trojans men's basketball program host ULM Thursday night in a crucial matchup.

The Trojans, who sit just one game behind Coastal Carolina and UT Arlington for eighth place, will look to even up the season series with the Warhawks.

Troy concludes the weekend, and its season long three-game home stand on Saturday night when Louisiana visits Trojan Arena. Tip-off for senior night is set for 6 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT- (Troy- 9-16, 5-9 Sun Belt)
The Troy Trojans look to bounce back after a heartbreaking 70-66 setback to in-state rival South Alabama. In front of a nationally televised audience and a raucous crowd of 4,523 (third largest in Trojan Arena history), the Trojans made a furious second half comeback, holding the visiting Jaguars to 1-of-8 shooting from behind the 3-point arc and 28 second half points. After heading into the locker room at the break trailing by eight points, Troy cut the Jaguars lead to one-point multiple times including with 61 seconds to play after Darian Adams hit a pair of free throws. On the ensuing South Alabama possession, Herb McGee missed a 3-pointer with 35 seconds to go, but Chad Lott was able to grab the loose ball. With the clock winding down, the Trojans were forced to foul Andre Fox. Fox hit both attempts from the line, giving the visitors a 69-66 lead with 18 second to play. After a timeout, Ty Gordon had a good look at a game tying 3-pointer, but the shot was just off the mark. South grabbed the rebound and hit one last free throw to seal the victory. Four Trojans reached double-figures on Friday night led by Desmond Williams (13 points, 4 3-pointers) and Tahj Small (12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists). Small's 12 points were a new career high. Juniors Nick Stampley (5-of-6 shooting) and Ty Gordon (10 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists) both added 10. Gordon has now scored at least 10 points in five consecutive contests.

LAST TIME OUT- (ULM, 6-17, 2-12 Sun Belt)
The ULM Warhawks enter Thursday's matchup with a record of 6-17 overall, and 2-12 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks have lost 10 consecutive games, and 15 of their last 17 games overall. The Warhawks last victory was back on Jan. 4, when they defeated South Alabama 69-49 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. In that game, guard Michael Ertel scored 39 points and dished out six assists, while senior forward JD Williams scored 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. Ertel scored 28 of his 39 in the first half, hitting eight of his Sun Belt record 11 3-pointers in the first period. Since the victory over South, the Warhawks have come close to snapping the skid, falling to Georgia Southern by just two points (67-65) last Thursday and to Texas State by just one point (64-64) back on Jan. 16. The Warhawks are 0-10 away from Fant-Ewing Coliseum this season. Ertel (16.0) and Williams (14.2 points) have led the way for ULM this season scoring 30 of the Warhawk's 62 points per game. Ertel's 16.0 points a game are the fifth most in the Sun Belt this season. In the first matchup back in Monroe, the Trojans did enjoy a 33-31 advantage at the break, but ULM outscored Troy 48-30 in the second period, hitting 21-of-26 free-throw attempts. In that game, Tyree White led all scorers with 19 points and 7 rebounds, while Williams added 17 and 6. The Warhawks shot 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) from the field in the second half.

Trojan Storylines:
• Troy is done playing the top-four teams in the Sun Belt. In its seven matchups against those teams, Troy went 4-3. The Trojans are the only team in the Sun Belt to record three victories over Little Rock and Georgia State, the top two teams in the SBC.
• Troy has held opponents to just 57 the last two games in the second half. On Feb. 1, Troy held Georgia State to just 29 points and 2-of-18 (11.1 percent) from three. On Friday, Troy held South Alabama to just 1-of-8 (12.5 percent) from 3 and 28 total points.
• Since being reinserted into the starting lineup back on Jan. 6 at Texas State (10 games), junior Nick Stampley is averaging 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Stampley is shooting a blistering 33-of-52 (.635) from the field in that span and has grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.
• Ty Gordon is averaging 14.5 points and 4.3 assists in 2020. Gordon recorded at least 10 points in nine of Troy's 10 January games. Gordon has scored at least 10 points in six consecutive contests and scored a career-high 24 points on at GSU back on Feb. 1.
• Troy has won six of its last eight games where they have hit at least 10 3-pointers. The Trojans are just 3-11 when they don't hit at least 10 3-pointers.
• Freshman Desmond Williams has hit nine 3-pointers in his last two games. Williams has now scored 37 points in his last two games, and has reached double-figures in seven of his last 10 games. Williams is shooting a team best 45.6 percent from three this season.
• The Trojans have hit 87 3-pointers over the last nine games. Troy hit a season-best 15 3-pointers in the victory over Little Rock back on Jan. 9. The 15 3-pointers were the most a Troy team has hit since 2017. Last Saturday Troy hit 10 3-pointers in the first half and 14 total 3-pointers. Troy has made the third most 3-pointers in the conference.
• Troy has drawn 65 total charges this season through 25 games (2.6-per- game). The Trojans have drawn at least one charge 22 of 25 games.

Promotions:
• Students: Free McDonalds burgers and fanny packs for the first 200 students.
• Tickets: BOGO reserved and general admission tickets.

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

Troy University Athletics

Trojans Host ULM Thursday for Crucial Sun Belt Matchup

Players Mentioned

Darian Adams

Ty Gordon

Tahj Small

Nick Stampley

Desmond Williams

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