Troy University Athletics
Wednesday, December 22
Macon, Ga.
5 p.m.
Troy University
9-4,0-0Sun Belt
69
at
65
Mercer
7-6,0-0SoCon
1
2
F
Troy
38
31
69
Mercer
33
32
65
Troy Beats Mercer 69-65 for Fourth Straight Win
12/22/2021 8:14:00 PM | Basketball (M)
MACON, Ga. – Troy men's basketball did what no other Sun Belt School could all year; it beat Mercer 69-65 Wednesday night from Hawkins Arena for its fourth straight win.
Troy is 9-4 this season which is its best start to a season since the Trojans were 9-3 to start the year in 2003-2004.
"I'm super proud of our guys," head coach Scott Cross said. "We played tougher and got some huge stops down the stretch and had a little more grit to us defensively, which was the difference. To have four straight wins going into conference play is huge. But we still have a long way to go, and we will take it one day at a time and get better."
Desmond Williams finished as the top scorer leading the Trojans with a season-best 21 points and five three-pointers. Khalyl Waters also set a season-high finishing with 19 points and went 10-10 from the free-throw line, including hitting six straight with under five minutes left in the game.
Mercer (7-6) was led by Jacksen Greco, who scored 18 points. The Bears would go the last five minutes without a field goal.
During that scoring drought by Mercer, Troy erased a nine-point deficit to get with one at 61-60 after going on an eight-point run.
With 1:34 left on the clock, Duke Deen hit a three to give Troy a 63-61 lead. It was the Trojans' first lead since the start of the second half, and Troy wouldn't trail the rest of the game.
With under a minute left in the game, Christian Turner came down with an offensive rebound and passed to Williams, who drew a foul and converted both free throws.
With three seconds left in the game, Mercer hit a three to get within two, but the Trojans inbounded once more to Waters, who stepped up to the line and put the game away.
The Trojans shot 47 percent from the field in the first half and held a 14-point lead, but the Bears were able to hang around.
With the Bears only down one, Khalyl Waters got a steal and rose for another highlight-reel dunk, and the Trojans took a 38-33 lead into halftime.
Coming out the half, Mercer went on an 8-0 run that lasted just over two minutes to reclaim the one-point lead and force a Trojan timeout.
The run continued as the Trojans went scoreless for more than five minutes until a Zay Williams layup ended the drought.
Troy finished 17-19 from the free-throw line for a season-high 89.5 percent. The Trojans and the Bears each had 11 turnovers, but the Trojans won the rebound battle 31-30.
Up Next: The Trojans are off for the holidays and will return to action on Dec. 30 as they begin Sun Belt Conference play at Texas State.
Troy is 9-4 this season which is its best start to a season since the Trojans were 9-3 to start the year in 2003-2004.
"I'm super proud of our guys," head coach Scott Cross said. "We played tougher and got some huge stops down the stretch and had a little more grit to us defensively, which was the difference. To have four straight wins going into conference play is huge. But we still have a long way to go, and we will take it one day at a time and get better."
Desmond Williams finished as the top scorer leading the Trojans with a season-best 21 points and five three-pointers. Khalyl Waters also set a season-high finishing with 19 points and went 10-10 from the free-throw line, including hitting six straight with under five minutes left in the game.
Mercer (7-6) was led by Jacksen Greco, who scored 18 points. The Bears would go the last five minutes without a field goal.
During that scoring drought by Mercer, Troy erased a nine-point deficit to get with one at 61-60 after going on an eight-point run.
With 1:34 left on the clock, Duke Deen hit a three to give Troy a 63-61 lead. It was the Trojans' first lead since the start of the second half, and Troy wouldn't trail the rest of the game.
With under a minute left in the game, Christian Turner came down with an offensive rebound and passed to Williams, who drew a foul and converted both free throws.
With three seconds left in the game, Mercer hit a three to get within two, but the Trojans inbounded once more to Waters, who stepped up to the line and put the game away.
The Trojans shot 47 percent from the field in the first half and held a 14-point lead, but the Bears were able to hang around.
With the Bears only down one, Khalyl Waters got a steal and rose for another highlight-reel dunk, and the Trojans took a 38-33 lead into halftime.
Coming out the half, Mercer went on an 8-0 run that lasted just over two minutes to reclaim the one-point lead and force a Trojan timeout.
The run continued as the Trojans went scoreless for more than five minutes until a Zay Williams layup ended the drought.
Troy finished 17-19 from the free-throw line for a season-high 89.5 percent. The Trojans and the Bears each had 11 turnovers, but the Trojans won the rebound battle 31-30.
Up Next: The Trojans are off for the holidays and will return to action on Dec. 30 as they begin Sun Belt Conference play at Texas State.
Team Stats
TROY
Mercer
FG%
.368
.386
3FG%
.435
.343
FT%
.895
.692
RB
31
30
TO
11
11
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
19
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Basketball (M)F
/ Basketball (M)G
/ Basketball (M)
F
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