Second Half Run Comes up Short at South Alabama

Saturday, February 29

Mobile, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

9-21,5-14Sun Be

South Alabama

19-11,12-7Sun B

Troy

South Alabama

Photo by: Brad Puckett

Second Half Run Comes up Short at South Alabama

2/29/2020 10:07:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MOBILE, Ala. -- Despite outscoring South Alabama 30-13 over a 12-minute stretch in the second half, the Troy Trojans fell 78-63 Saturday night at the Mitchell Center

In the loss, Charles Norman scored a career-best 17 points (5-of-7 3-point) in 24 minutes, while Khalyl Waters tied his best output, scoring 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Freshman Jakevan Leftridge also made his return to the lineup, appearing in game action for the first time since Jan. 16 against Georgia Southern (10 games). Leftridge scored six points in nearly 19 minutes of action.

The Jaguars and Trojans got off to a fast start, as both teams hit three triples by the first media timeout.

Troy's last 3-pointer of the stretch cut the South Alabama lead 11-9 at the first media timeout.

Over the next 1:48 of game action, the Jaguars used a 7-0 run to take an 18-9 lead with 13:15 to play in the first period.

Behind a pair of layups from Waters, and a 3-pointer from Desmond Williams, the Trojans cut the South Alabama lead to just 18-16 with 11:04 to play in the half.

South A traded baskets that changed the score to 22-20 with 9:35 to play, the Jaguars used the 24-10 run to open a 46-30 halftime lead.

After the halftime break, South Alabama opened the half on a 15-3 run forcing a Troy timeout.

Following the timeout, the Trojans held South Alabama without a field goal for nearly seven minutes, using a 15-3 outburst to cut the South Alabama lead to 64-48 with 7:55 to play.

From the 15:16 mark, the Trojans outscored South Alabama 30-17, cutting a 28-point deficit to just 16 points with 7:55 left and to 11 points with 1:39 left, but the Trojans were unable to get any closer.

Chad Lott led all scorers with 22 points while Herb Mcgee added 16 points (5-of-7 3-pointers) for the Jaguars who shot 68.4 percent (26-of-38) from the field for the contest.

Troy returns to action for its final game of the 2019-20 season on Tuesday night when UT Arlington visits Trojan Arena. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"Tonight, was a very disappointing game for us. We didn't do a very good job defensively. Give South Alabama credit. They shot lights-out against us tonight. We have to find a way to stop a team better than we did tonight. The thing about defense is that anyone can play good defense. It doesn't matter what kind of talent you have it all comes down to effort. That's the area I was most disappointed with. I was proud of a couple of our guys. I thought Khalyl gave us a huge lift. He brought some grit, energy and toughness, and Chuck did the same thing. Credit Nick [Stampley] because he continues to battle and fight in there. We have one game left and two days left to prepare. Hopefully we can end this season on a positive note."

On the performance from Norman:
"I'm very happy for Chuck. Chuck is a guy who never quits and fights until the very end. Even when you're down big like we were at times tonight, you know you can put Chuck in and he'll battle for you. Obviously he hit some shots which led to his career high tonight. So I'm very happy for him. He's got one game left so hopefully we can play well for him and he can go out the right way."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Norman scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half.
• He was a team-best +10 in the second half.
• His five 3-pointers tie his career best output. Norman also hit five 3-pointers last season against Southern Miss (Nov. 15, 2018).
• Waters was the lone Trojan to record a positive plus-minus tonight. He was +3 over his 27 minutes of action.
• Waters grabbed a career-best 9 rebounds.
• Troy hit 11 3-pointers tonight. It was the first time Troy hit at least 10 3-pointer since the previous matchup against South (Feb. 8).
• After turning the ball over 15 times over the first 25 minutes of action, the Trojans turned the ball over just three times the remaining 15 minutes of play.
• Troy conversely forced 11 second half turnovers, scoring 15 points.
• The Trojans outscored South 34-33 in the second period. It was the second consecutive matchup that Troy won the second half.

JUNIOR KHALYL WATERS:
"Tonight I was trying to be aggressive, especially on the offensive glass. Our effort in the second half showed a lot of heart. Coach [Cross] preaches to us the importance of giving effort. Effort doesn't require talent. I think you saw the group that made the run for us was just giving maximum effort. We took that to heart and was able to go on that good stretch. It was great to get Jakevan back tonight because he's a playmaker and a great teammate. He was a great addition for us tonight."