Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, February 16
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Georgia State
Trojans Return Home for Weekend Series with Georgia State
1/7/2021 3:56:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Troy men's basketball returns home this weekend for a pair of games with the Georgia State Panthers.
The series will get going Friday evening at 6 p.m. while Saturday's contest will tip at 4 p.m.
Winners of five of the last seven and three straight at Trojan Arena, the Trojans following the weekend series return to action next weekend at Georgia Southern. Tip-off from Statesboro is set for 5 p.m. and 2 p.m. Central.
HOW TO FOLLOW (Friday):
TROY (6-5 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia State (7-2 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 8, 2021
Location: Troy, Ala. (Trojan Arena)
Time: 6 p.m.
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
HOW TO FOLLOW (Saturday):
TROY (6-5 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia State (7-2 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 9, 2021
Location: Troy, Ala. (Trojan Arena)
Time: 4 p.m.
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Troy- 6-5, 1-1):
The Trojans enter the weekend having won five of their last seven and three straight at Trojan Arena. Troy's 3-0 start at Trojan Arena is the best start a Troy team has gotten off to a 3-0 start at Trojan Arena for the first time 2017-18. This weekend's games against the Panthers are Troy's first two home games of the 2021 calendar year and Troy's first weekend home game of the season. The Trojans opened Sun Belt Conference play a weekend ago at Appalachian State splitting a weekend series with the Mountaineers. In Friday's opener the Trojans rode 69 points to a 13-point victory. In that game, Nick Stampley and Khalyl Waters contributed 17 points each, while freshman Christian Turner and Desmond Williams each contributed eight. The Trojans shot an impressive 13-of-22 from the floor in the second half (59.1 percent) and 26-for-50 overall (52 percent). Troy led for 36:50 and never trailed in the wire-to-wire victory. On Saturday, Appalachian State rode a quick 17-4 start to a wire-to-wire victory over the Trojans. In that contest, Stampley scored a career-best 19 points.
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Georgia State- 7-2, 1-1):
Checking in at No. 67 in the most recent NCAA NET rankings, and No. 9 in the CIT Mid-Major Poll, the Georgia State Panthers enter this weekend having won five-of-six overall. After starting the season with a dramatic quadruple overtime victory at Georgia Tech (123-120), the Panthers defeated Toccoa Falls (105-60). After falling at Mercer (86-69), Georgia State rebounded with for consecutive victories at Charlotte (76-65), Mercer (88-81), Carver (122-57) and the College of Charleston (72-55). Georgia State split last weekend's series at Coastal Carolina falling 81-69 on Friday before rebounding for a 70-62 victory on Saturday. So far this season, the Panthers are scoring a Sun Belt leading 88.2 points and have four different players averaging at least 13.6 points a game. Senior Corey Allen has led the way thus far averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The guard leads the Sun Belt in 3-point makes (32) and is shooting a blistering 54.2 percent from behind the arc. His 3-point percentage is sixth in the NCAA. The Panthers 7-2 start is the second-best in school history behind the Panthers' 8-1 start back in 2000-01.
STORYLINES:
THREE-IN-A-ROW
Troy has won three straight at Trojan Arena. With a victory, Troy would win its fourth straight at Trojan Arena for the first time since 2017-18 when Troy four straight from Jan. 22 to Feb. 15.
TROUBLE WITH THE TROJANS
Georgia State has struggled with the Trojans the last few seasons. Troy swept Georgia State a season ago and has won three straight home games against the Panthers. The Trojans have won six of eight against Ga. State.
THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM?
The Trojans have won both of the front-ends of back-to-backs this season. Troy defeated Western Carolina back on Nov. 27 and defeated App State last Friday. Troy is however 0-2 on the second half of the back-to-back having dropped games against UNCW and App State.
LEAVING HIS STAMP
Senior Nick Stampley is averaging 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. Stamp has reached double-figures in five straight contests (16.4/game in that span) and scored a career-best 19 at App State on Friday. The senior is also averaging 9.0 rebounds and has made at least one three in all five games.
HOME ON A WEEKEND?
For the first time this weekend the Trojans will play at home on a Friday or a Saturday. After starting this season on a Friday/Saturday in Ashville, the Trojans played back on Dec. 3 at Texas Tech (Friday). The Trojans closed 2020 with a Dec. 19 (Saturday) matchup at Auburn. Troy opened 2021 at Appalachian State. The Trojans are 2-1 this season on Friday's but 0-3 on Saturday's.
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.
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 42-of-45 (93.3%) percent from the line. Waters has recorded at least 20 points in two of his last four games. Waters scored a career-best 21 against Samford on Dec. 16.
SAY ZAY!
Junior Zay Williams continues to be a force for the Trojans inside. Williams is averaging 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds a game this season. The forward has scored at least 10 points in six of Troy's 11 games. Troy is 3-12 the last two seasons when Zay doesn't play (12-16 when he does). Troy is 5-1 when Zay scores at least 10 points. Troy is just 1-4 when he doesnt.
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 5-0 when holding a team below 65 points and 5-0 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 32 total charges in 11 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).
The series will get going Friday evening at 6 p.m. while Saturday's contest will tip at 4 p.m.
Winners of five of the last seven and three straight at Trojan Arena, the Trojans following the weekend series return to action next weekend at Georgia Southern. Tip-off from Statesboro is set for 5 p.m. and 2 p.m. Central.
HOW TO FOLLOW (Friday):
TROY (6-5 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia State (7-2 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 8, 2021
Location: Troy, Ala. (Trojan Arena)
Time: 6 p.m.
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
HOW TO FOLLOW (Saturday):
TROY (6-5 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia State (7-2 Overall, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Date: Jan. 9, 2021
Location: Troy, Ala. (Trojan Arena)
Time: 4 p.m.
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Stats
Listen: Listen
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Troy- 6-5, 1-1):
The Trojans enter the weekend having won five of their last seven and three straight at Trojan Arena. Troy's 3-0 start at Trojan Arena is the best start a Troy team has gotten off to a 3-0 start at Trojan Arena for the first time 2017-18. This weekend's games against the Panthers are Troy's first two home games of the 2021 calendar year and Troy's first weekend home game of the season. The Trojans opened Sun Belt Conference play a weekend ago at Appalachian State splitting a weekend series with the Mountaineers. In Friday's opener the Trojans rode 69 points to a 13-point victory. In that game, Nick Stampley and Khalyl Waters contributed 17 points each, while freshman Christian Turner and Desmond Williams each contributed eight. The Trojans shot an impressive 13-of-22 from the floor in the second half (59.1 percent) and 26-for-50 overall (52 percent). Troy led for 36:50 and never trailed in the wire-to-wire victory. On Saturday, Appalachian State rode a quick 17-4 start to a wire-to-wire victory over the Trojans. In that contest, Stampley scored a career-best 19 points.
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Georgia State- 7-2, 1-1):
Checking in at No. 67 in the most recent NCAA NET rankings, and No. 9 in the CIT Mid-Major Poll, the Georgia State Panthers enter this weekend having won five-of-six overall. After starting the season with a dramatic quadruple overtime victory at Georgia Tech (123-120), the Panthers defeated Toccoa Falls (105-60). After falling at Mercer (86-69), Georgia State rebounded with for consecutive victories at Charlotte (76-65), Mercer (88-81), Carver (122-57) and the College of Charleston (72-55). Georgia State split last weekend's series at Coastal Carolina falling 81-69 on Friday before rebounding for a 70-62 victory on Saturday. So far this season, the Panthers are scoring a Sun Belt leading 88.2 points and have four different players averaging at least 13.6 points a game. Senior Corey Allen has led the way thus far averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The guard leads the Sun Belt in 3-point makes (32) and is shooting a blistering 54.2 percent from behind the arc. His 3-point percentage is sixth in the NCAA. The Panthers 7-2 start is the second-best in school history behind the Panthers' 8-1 start back in 2000-01.
STORYLINES:
THREE-IN-A-ROW
Troy has won three straight at Trojan Arena. With a victory, Troy would win its fourth straight at Trojan Arena for the first time since 2017-18 when Troy four straight from Jan. 22 to Feb. 15.
TROUBLE WITH THE TROJANS
Georgia State has struggled with the Trojans the last few seasons. Troy swept Georgia State a season ago and has won three straight home games against the Panthers. The Trojans have won six of eight against Ga. State.
THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM?
The Trojans have won both of the front-ends of back-to-backs this season. Troy defeated Western Carolina back on Nov. 27 and defeated App State last Friday. Troy is however 0-2 on the second half of the back-to-back having dropped games against UNCW and App State.
LEAVING HIS STAMP
Senior Nick Stampley is averaging 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. Stamp has reached double-figures in five straight contests (16.4/game in that span) and scored a career-best 19 at App State on Friday. The senior is also averaging 9.0 rebounds and has made at least one three in all five games.
HOME ON A WEEKEND?
For the first time this weekend the Trojans will play at home on a Friday or a Saturday. After starting this season on a Friday/Saturday in Ashville, the Trojans played back on Dec. 3 at Texas Tech (Friday). The Trojans closed 2020 with a Dec. 19 (Saturday) matchup at Auburn. Troy opened 2021 at Appalachian State. The Trojans are 2-1 this season on Friday's but 0-3 on Saturday's.
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.
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 42-of-45 (93.3%) percent from the line. Waters has recorded at least 20 points in two of his last four games. Waters scored a career-best 21 against Samford on Dec. 16.
SAY ZAY!
Junior Zay Williams continues to be a force for the Trojans inside. Williams is averaging 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds a game this season. The forward has scored at least 10 points in six of Troy's 11 games. Troy is 3-12 the last two seasons when Zay doesn't play (12-16 when he does). Troy is 5-1 when Zay scores at least 10 points. Troy is just 1-4 when he doesnt.
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 5-0 when holding a team below 65 points and 5-0 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 32 total charges in 11 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).
Players Mentioned
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