Gordon’s Second Half Explosion Not Enough, as Troy Falls to Louisiana

Saturday, February 15

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

9-18,5-11Sun Be

Louisiana

11-16,6-10Sun B

Louisiana

Troy

Photo by: Joey Meredith

Gordon’s Second Half Explosion Not Enough, as Troy Falls to Louisiana

2/15/2020 10:06:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Head Coach Scott Cross- Louisiana Box Score (PDF)Photos (Joey Meredith)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. -- Despite 19 second half points from Ty Gordon, and 50 total second half points, the Troy Trojans men's basketball program fell to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 81-77 Saturday night at Trojan Arena. Saturday's matchup was senior night, as Troy honored senior-manager Keifer Quick and Charles Norman before the game.

The Trojans, who entered the night in a tie with the Ragin' Cajuns for the 10^th and final playoff spot in next month's Sun Belt Conference Tournament, outscored Louisiana 50-45 in the second period.

In the loss, Ty Gordon led all scorers with a career-high 28 points (19 second half), while freshman Desmond Williams added 14 points, 4 assists and 5 steals. Williams' five steals are a new career-best.

The Trojans (9-18, 5-11 Sun Belt) started the game off well, taking an early 8-3 advantage just two minutes and 32 seconds into the ballgame.

An 11-0 run by the visiting Ragin' Cajuns (11-16, 6-10 Sun Belt Conference) gave them a six-point lead (14-8) with 11:47 remaining in the first half.

Six minutes later, Louisiana increased its spurt to 29-9 overall (18-9 run), taking a 32-17 advantage with 5:22 to play in the first half.

After Louisiana increased its lead to a game-high 16 (34-18) with 3:47 left in the half, the Trojans used a 9-2 run to cut the Louisiana lead to just 36-27 at the break.

Following the halftime break, the visitors scored nine of the first 11 points of the half, to take a 45-29 lead.

Then Troy made a run.

Behind a 12-2 outburst that encompassed just one minute and 58 seconds of game action, the Trojans cut the Louisiana advantage to just 47-41.

Over the next four minutes and 55 seconds of game action, Louisiana used a strong 14-8 stretch to take a 63-49 lead with 9:04 remaining in the ballgame.

The Trojans then used a 10-5 run to cut the Louisiana advantage to just 68-60 with 5:12 to play.

After Gordon and Jalen Johnson traded 3-point field goals on the next two possessions the Ragin Cajuns lead stood at 71-63 with 4:28 to play.

On the ensuing Louisiana possession, Charles Norman knocked the basketball from Mylik Wilson with just a few seconds remaining on the shot-clock. Wilson calmly retreated in the backcourt picking the ball up with four seconds remaining on the shot-clock. The freshman drove down the lane, banking-in a floater that just beat the buzzer. The shot gave Louisiana a 73-63 lead with 3:56 to play.

After a Gordon layup cut the Troy deficit to just 73-68 remaining, Troy forced a missed 3-pointer from Trajan Wesley.

On the loose ball rebound Gordon was whistled for his fourth personal foul, sending Wesley to the line for two shots. After missing the first, Wesley sunk the second to give Louisiana a 74-68 lead.

In possession of the basketball with just 2:45 to play, Gordon drove the lane, and was whistled for a push-off offensive foul. The foul, which was Gordon fifth, disqualified him from the ballgame.

Down the stretch, Troy was able to cut the Louisiana lead to three on multiple occasions, but clutch free throw shooting propelled Louisiana to the victory.

Four Ragin' Cajuns reached double-figures led by Johson (20 points) and Tirus Smith (17 points, 9-10 FT).

For the game, Louisiana shot 30-of-39 from the foul line. The Ragin' Cajuns hit 22-off-31 attempts in the second period.

Troy returns to action Thursday night for another important Sun Belt Conference matchup at Coastal Carolina. Tip-off from Conway is set for 6 p.m. Central.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Gordon scored the career-best 28 points in just 29 minutes of action.
• He was 12-of-17 from the field, including a blistering 8-of-9 shooting in the second half.
• The 28 points are the most a Trojan has scored this season.
• Troy's last 30 points game occurred last Jan. 26 at Louisiana, when Jordan Varnado poured in 33.
• Gordon recorded his third 20-point game this season, and his 18^th game of at least 10 points.
• Freshman Tyrek Williams saw action for the first time since Jan. 6 at Texas State. Williams missed the previous 10 games with left-knee soreness.
• The big man was a team-high +9 in his 7:50 seconds of action.
• The Trojans enjoyed a 46-22 advantage on points-in-paint.
• Troy hit seven more field goals than Louisiana.
• Louisiana attempted more free throws in the second half (31) than Troy attempted all game (20).
• Louisiana outscored Troy 30-13 (+17) at the foul-line.
• Troy was whistled for 19 team fouls in the second half, as the two teams were called for 32 fouls in the second period.

HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"Our guys gave a great effort tonight for most of the game which is all I can ask for as a coach. I'm proud of them for that. They gave us an opportunity to win. I'm disappointed we didn't get it done for Chuck [Norman] on his senior night, but he played as hard as he possible could. We just have to get back to work and find a way to win next Thursday at Coastal Carolina. It won't be easy, but if we can find a way to fight for 40 minutes, we'll have an opportunity to win it. Going forward we're going to have to look at some different combinations of guys. Tyrek [Williams], AK [Atakan Sahinkaya] and Khalyl [Waters] played really well in their minute's tonight, which is a positive. We're going to have to find the spots to work those guys in because I thought tonight we played some players at positions they haven't played, which led to them not knowing where to be on the court. We'll work on it this week at practice and hopefully come Thursday they'll be more comfortable."

On the second half rebounding advantage (Troy 20-16):
"Our guys played harder and did a better job in the second half, but you hate that Ty got those two block-out calls in the second half. He did exactly what you're taught to do. You ask your guys to block out like that. It is a foul, but it's something they hardly call. They had a size advantage on us and they were doing a good job of getting into position, so Ty was just trying to use his leverage to get them out. Ultimately, I thought we were better on the glass in the second half."