Troy University Athletics
Friday, January 22
Conway, S.C.
5 p.m.
Troy University
at
Coastal Carolina
Trojans Concludes January Road Swing at Coastal Carolina
1/21/2021 12:53:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Troy men's basketball closes out a six-game road swing Friday and Saturday at Coastal Carolina.
Tip-off from the HTC Center is set for 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday and 2 p.m. (CT) on Saturday. Both contests will be live streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on TroyStats.com.
Following this weekend's action at Coastal, the Trojans will next return to action next weekend when Appalachian State makes the return trip to Troy. The two-game series with the Mountaineers will tip-off Friday at 6 p.m. and conclude Saturday at 4 p.m. The weekend will open a four-game homestand (longest of the season) and will be Troy's annual Coaches vs. Cancer weekend.
HOW TO FOLLOW (Friday):
TROY (6-7 Overall, 1-3 Sun Belt) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3 Overall, 3-2 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Location: Conway, S.C. (HTC Center)
Time: 5 p.m CT
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
HOW TO FOLLOW (Saturday):
TROY (6-7 Overall, 1-3 Sun Belt) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3 Overall, 3-2 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 23, 2021
Location: Conway, S.C. (HTC Center)
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Troy- 6-7, 1-3):
The Trojans look to snap a three-game losing streak this weekend at Coastal Carolina. The streak began two weekends ago when the Trojans dropped the Saturday finale to Appalachian State. After taking a weekend off due to COVID-19 issues within the Georgia State program, the Trojans returned to action last weekend at Georgia Southern. Down five scholarship players due to various injuries, the Trojans sustained another hit Friday night when senior Nick Stampley absorbed an elbow to the face and suffered an injury that forced him out of the rest of Friday's contest as well as the series finale on Saturday. Without their leader, the Trojans battled and led by as many as nine points, before allowing an 18-4 GS run to close the half. In the second period the Trojans and Eagles battled down the stretch, but neither side could close out the contest. In the overtime period, freshman Kam Woods hit a triple to put the Trojans up 62-59 but an and-one layup on the very next GS possession tied the contest at 62. The Eagles used the layup and four free-throws to open a 66-59 lead before the Trojans cut the deficit to 66-64 with 24 seconds to play. An Eagles turnover gave Troy possession, but Woods' driving layup was blocked away. GS used one last free throw to take a 67-64 lead that the Trojans were unable to overcome with just seven seconds to play. Woods scored a career-best 23. On Saturday, Troy trailed by as many as 14 points and took a 33-31 lead with just under 16 minutes to play, but ultimately couldn't overcome the GS deficit despite cutting the margin to two points on multiple occasions. Junior Zay Williams scored a season-best 24 points.
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Coastal Carolina- 9-3, 3-2):
Checking in at No. 23 in the most recent College Insiders Mid-Major Poll, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers enter the weekend 9-3 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt. In a battle between the top-two teams in the Sun Belt in the mid-major poll, The Chants dropped a tough 71-68 decision to Georgia State. In that contest, Coastal led 68-63 with a minute to go, but two costly turnovers allowed the Panthers to use an 8-0 run to earn a come-from-behind 71-68 victory. The Saturday contest was Coastal's lone matchup of the weekend because their Friday game at Georgia State was postponed. Both of Coastal's Sun Belt losses are to Georgia State. Statistically three different CCU players are averaging at least 13 points led by Devonte Jones (22.2 points) and DeAnthony Tipler (16.1 points). As a team CCU is averaging a Sun Belt-best 87.1 points.
STORYLINES:
GETTING A BIT HEALTHIER
Troy was without six scholarship players on Saturday afternoon at Georgia Southern (Burnett, Geffrard, Leftridge, Mendes, Miles and Stampley). Other than Stampley who sustained a blow to the mouth in the opening minutes of Friday's matchup, none of the other players saw action this weekend. Mendes, Miles and Stampley are all projected to return this weekend at Coastal Carolina.
ROAD WARRIORS
Troy continues its second 25+ day stretch without a home game this weekend at Georgia Southern. After seeing last weekends Sun Belt home opener against Ga State postponed, the Trojans will now play their first six games of Sun Belt play on the road (App, GS and CCU). After seeing the season/home-opener canceled against Middle Ga State, the Trojans instead opened with five straight neutral/road contests (WCU, UNCW, at TTU, at UAB and at UNA). The Trojans are scheduled to return to Trojan Arena for a pair of games against App State on Jan. 29 and 30.
INTO THE WOODS
Freshman Kam Woods has made an immediate impact for the Trojans this season. Woods' 10.5 points are the second most on the Trojans roster. The former Pinson Valley star has scored 137 points this season, the most by a true freshman in the Sun Belt this season. Woods' 52 points (13.0/G) in the Sun Belt are the most scored by a freshman in SBC this season. Woods has also recorded eight games with at least 10 points this season the most among freshman in the Sun Belt Conference. The guard is the fourth true freshman to record at least two 20-point games since 2006 joining Wes Person, Jordon Varnado and teammate Dez Williams.
SAY ZAY!
Junior Zay Williams continues to be a force for the Trojans inside. Williams is averaging 12.0 points and 7.6 rebounds a game this season. The forward has scored at least 10 points in eight of Troy's 13 games. Troy is 3-12 the last two seasons when Zay doesn't play (12-18 when he does). Troy is 5-3 when Zay scores at least 10 points. Troy is just 1-4 when he doesn't. The forward scored 24 points on Saturday afternoon, just four points off his career-high of 28 set last season at Indiana.
WOUNDED WARRIOR
Senior Nick Stampley missed his first career game Saturday afternoon at Georgia Southern. After playing in all 31 games a season ago, Stampley had played and started all 12 contests this season. The forward is expected to return to action this weekend at Coastal Carolina.
Roaring Waters
Senior Khalyl Waters continues to impress this season. The combo guard is averaging 9.6 points this season and is shooting an impressive 44-of-49 (89.8%) percent from the line. Waters has recorded at least 20 points twice this season. Waters scored a career-best 21 against Samford on Dec. 16. Waters 93.3 percent mark from the line is the seventh-best in the country (min 30 attempts) and leads the Sun Belt Conference.
A WHOLE LOT OF FREE THROWS
Troy converted on 36 of its 44 free throw attempts against Samford. The 36 made free throws are the most in Troy's D-I history. The Troy program record for free throws made in a game was 41 against Auburn-Montgomery back in 1992. The Trojans are 4-1 this season when attempting at least 20 free throws. The lone loss was Dec. 6 at UAB.
ALL BARK NO BITE
In just the programs third matchup in the last 17 years, the Trojans defeated Samford Wednesday night for the first time since 2003. In the wire-to-wire victory, the Trojans held the dangerous Samford attack to a season-low 71 points and five total 3-pointers made. Coming into the contest, the Bulldogs had scored at least 75 points in every game this season.
HIT THE GLASS
The Trojans had two players record double-digit rebounds- Z. Williams and Stampley in two of the last three games. Last Sunday Williams recorded 13 rebounds while Stampley had 10. On Wednesday, Williams again had 13 rebounds while Stampley had 12. Sunday's instance was the first time Troy had two double-digit rebounders since Jordon Varnado (11) and Alex Hicks (14) each had at least 10 rebounds back on Jan. 26, 2019 against Louisiana.
DEFENSE HAS LED To WINS
The Trojans were 7-1 last season when they held teams to 65 points or fewer. Troy's lone loss when holding a team below that mark was at Texas A&M (56-52, loss). The Trojans were also 8-1 last season when holding an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. Wednesday's win over Samford is the first time that Troy won when a team shot better than 40 percent from the field and scored more than 65 (1-3). So far this season Troy is 5-1 when holding a team below 65 points and 5-1 when holding teams below 40 percent shooting.
REP THE 'T'
Head coach Scott Cross preaches the mantra that the toughest team always wins. So far this season Troy has taken 37 total charges in 13 games. The Trojans have taken at least two charges in every game except the UNCW game where they failed to take one. Troy took 80 charges in 31 games a season ago. Nick Stampley took 32 of those 80 (40 percent).
Tip-off from the HTC Center is set for 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday and 2 p.m. (CT) on Saturday. Both contests will be live streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on TroyStats.com.
Following this weekend's action at Coastal, the Trojans will next return to action next weekend when Appalachian State makes the return trip to Troy. The two-game series with the Mountaineers will tip-off Friday at 6 p.m. and conclude Saturday at 4 p.m. The weekend will open a four-game homestand (longest of the season) and will be Troy's annual Coaches vs. Cancer weekend.
HOW TO FOLLOW (Friday):
TROY (6-7 Overall, 1-3 Sun Belt) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3 Overall, 3-2 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Location: Conway, S.C. (HTC Center)
Time: 5 p.m CT
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
HOW TO FOLLOW (Saturday):
TROY (6-7 Overall, 1-3 Sun Belt) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3 Overall, 3-2 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 23, 2021
Location: Conway, S.C. (HTC Center)
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Troy- 6-7, 1-3):
The Trojans look to snap a three-game losing streak this weekend at Coastal Carolina. The streak began two weekends ago when the Trojans dropped the Saturday finale to Appalachian State. After taking a weekend off due to COVID-19 issues within the Georgia State program, the Trojans returned to action last weekend at Georgia Southern. Down five scholarship players due to various injuries, the Trojans sustained another hit Friday night when senior Nick Stampley absorbed an elbow to the face and suffered an injury that forced him out of the rest of Friday's contest as well as the series finale on Saturday. Without their leader, the Trojans battled and led by as many as nine points, before allowing an 18-4 GS run to close the half. In the second period the Trojans and Eagles battled down the stretch, but neither side could close out the contest. In the overtime period, freshman Kam Woods hit a triple to put the Trojans up 62-59 but an and-one layup on the very next GS possession tied the contest at 62. The Eagles used the layup and four free-throws to open a 66-59 lead before the Trojans cut the deficit to 66-64 with 24 seconds to play. An Eagles turnover gave Troy possession, but Woods' driving layup was blocked away. GS used one last free throw to take a 67-64 lead that the Trojans were unable to overcome with just seven seconds to play. Woods scored a career-best 23. On Saturday, Troy trailed by as many as 14 points and took a 33-31 lead with just under 16 minutes to play, but ultimately couldn't overcome the GS deficit despite cutting the margin to two points on multiple occasions. Junior Zay Williams scored a season-best 24 points.
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Coastal Carolina- 9-3, 3-2):
Checking in at No. 23 in the most recent College Insiders Mid-Major Poll, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers enter the weekend 9-3 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt. In a battle between the top-two teams in the Sun Belt in the mid-major poll, The Chants dropped a tough 71-68 decision to Georgia State. In that contest, Coastal led 68-63 with a minute to go, but two costly turnovers allowed the Panthers to use an 8-0 run to earn a come-from-behind 71-68 victory. The Saturday contest was Coastal's lone matchup of the weekend because their Friday game at Georgia State was postponed. Both of Coastal's Sun Belt losses are to Georgia State. Statistically three different CCU players are averaging at least 13 points led by Devonte Jones (22.2 points) and DeAnthony Tipler (16.1 points). As a team CCU is averaging a Sun Belt-best 87.1 points.
STORYLINES:
GETTING A BIT HEALTHIER
Troy was without six scholarship players on Saturday afternoon at Georgia Southern (Burnett, Geffrard, Leftridge, Mendes, Miles and Stampley). Other than Stampley who sustained a blow to the mouth in the opening minutes of Friday's matchup, none of the other players saw action this weekend. Mendes, Miles and Stampley are all projected to return this weekend at Coastal Carolina.
ROAD WARRIORS
Troy continues its second 25+ day stretch without a home game this weekend at Georgia Southern. After seeing last weekends Sun Belt home opener against Ga State postponed, the Trojans will now play their first six games of Sun Belt play on the road (App, GS and CCU). After seeing the season/home-opener canceled against Middle Ga State, the Trojans instead opened with five straight neutral/road contests (WCU, UNCW, at TTU, at UAB and at UNA). The Trojans are scheduled to return to Trojan Arena for a pair of games against App State on Jan. 29 and 30.
INTO THE WOODS
Freshman Kam Woods has made an immediate impact for the Trojans this season. Woods' 10.5 points are the second most on the Trojans roster. The former Pinson Valley star has scored 137 points this season, the most by a true freshman in the Sun Belt this season. Woods' 52 points (13.0/G) in the Sun Belt are the most scored by a freshman in SBC this season. Woods has also recorded eight games with at least 10 points this season the most among freshman in the Sun Belt Conference. The guard is the fourth true freshman to record at least two 20-point games since 2006 joining Wes Person, Jordon Varnado and teammate Dez Williams.
SAY ZAY!
Junior Zay Williams continues to be a force for the Trojans inside. Williams is averaging 12.0 points and 7.6 rebounds a game this season. The forward has scored at least 10 points in eight of Troy's 13 games. Troy is 3-12 the last two seasons when Zay doesn't play (12-18 when he does). Troy is 5-3 when Zay scores at least 10 points. Troy is just 1-4 when he doesn't. The forward scored 24 points on Saturday afternoon, just four points off his career-high of 28 set last season at Indiana.
WOUNDED WARRIOR
Senior Nick Stampley missed his first career game Saturday afternoon at Georgia Southern. After playing in all 31 games a season ago, Stampley had played and started all 12 contests this season. The forward is expected to return to action this weekend at Coastal Carolina.
Roaring Waters
Senior Khalyl Waters continues to impress this season. The combo guard is averaging 9.6 points this season and is shooting an impressive 44-of-49 (89.8%) percent from the line. Waters has recorded at least 20 points twice this season. Waters scored a career-best 21 against Samford on Dec. 16. Waters 93.3 percent mark from the line is the seventh-best in the country (min 30 attempts) and leads the Sun Belt Conference.
A WHOLE LOT OF FREE THROWS
Troy converted on 36 of its 44 free throw attempts against Samford. The 36 made free throws are the most in Troy's D-I history. The Troy program record for free throws made in a game was 41 against Auburn-Montgomery back in 1992. The Trojans are 4-1 this season when attempting at least 20 free throws. The lone loss was Dec. 6 at UAB.
ALL BARK NO BITE
In just the programs third matchup in the last 17 years, the Trojans defeated Samford Wednesday night for the first time since 2003. In the wire-to-wire victory, the Trojans held the dangerous Samford attack to a season-low 71 points and five total 3-pointers made. Coming into the contest, the Bulldogs had scored at least 75 points in every game this season.
HIT THE GLASS
The Trojans had two players record double-digit rebounds- Z. Williams and Stampley in two of the last three games. Last Sunday Williams recorded 13 rebounds while Stampley had 10. On Wednesday, Williams again had 13 rebounds while Stampley had 12. Sunday's instance was the first time Troy had two double-digit rebounders since Jordon Varnado (11) and Alex Hicks (14) each had at least 10 rebounds back on Jan. 26, 2019 against Louisiana.
DEFENSE HAS LED To WINS
The Trojans were 7-1 last season when they held teams to 65 points or fewer. Troy's lone loss when holding a team below that mark was at Texas A&M (56-52, loss). The Trojans were also 8-1 last season when holding an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. Wednesday's win over Samford is the first time that Troy won when a team shot better than 40 percent from the field and scored more than 65 (1-3). So far this season Troy is 5-1 when holding a team below 65 points and 5-1 when holding teams below 40 percent shooting.
REP THE 'T'
Head coach Scott Cross preaches the mantra that the toughest team always wins. So far this season Troy has taken 37 total charges in 13 games. The Trojans have taken at least two charges in every game except the UNCW game where they failed to take one. Troy took 80 charges in 31 games a season ago. Nick Stampley took 32 of those 80 (40 percent).
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