Trojans Come Up Short Against Southeastern Louisiana

Sunday, December 5

Troy, Ala.

4 p.m.

Troy University

5-4,0-0Sun Belt

Southeastern Louisiana

4-5,0-0Southland

Southeastern La.

Troy

Trojans Come Up Short Against Southeastern Louisiana

12/5/2021 6:49:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score Troy vs. SLU Box Score

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – The Trojans fell at home Sunday night 72-68 to Southeastern Louisiana after a back-and-forth affair that saw Troy come up short and end their three-game home win streak.

"We have to get tougher," head coach Scott Cross said. "We have to get back to Troy's toughness and back to playing Troy basketball. So, we will get back to work, get better and learn from this experience."

For Troy (5-4), Efe Odigie led the Trojans, who finished with the first double-double of his Trojan career, ending the night with 18 points and 10 rebounds. In 22 minutes, Zay Williams finished with 12 points, and in his third game of the season, Duke Miles was the third Trojan to finish in double figures with 10 points.

Southeastern (4-5) was led by Keon Clergeot, who scored 17 points. The Lions forced 12 Trojan turnovers in which they were able to convert to 17 points.

After being down as many as 11 points with six minutes left to play, Troy was able to go on a 9-0 run forcing four Lion turnovers to get within two points. Troy would eventually tie the game at 68 after Khalyl Waters would go one for two from the free-throw line.

The Trojans would need one defensive stop to get the ball back and try to win the game or go to overtime, Troy got the Lions to miss with nine seconds remaining in the game, but a put-back dunk made by Nick Caldwell gave Southeastern the two-point lead.

Desmond Williams had a chance to win the game for Troy, but his three-point shot hit the rim, and the Lions would get the rebound forcing the Trojans to foul, and it would seal the game for Southeastern.

The Trojans would find themselves down early as they trailed up to the nine-minute mark in the first half before Christian Turner gave Troy the 15-14 lead.

Troy had a slight lead just before halftime after a Miles three, but Southeastern would push the basketball in the final seconds as Nate Tshimnaga would foul the shooter on a three-pointer and make all three shots to take the 33-31 lead into halftime.

Southeastern coming out of the break s the aggressor as the Lions would go on a 12-0 run over two minutes, forcing four Troy turnovers in which Troy was held without a point for three minutes forcing a Troy timeout up 50-41.

Troy would dominate points in the paint with 42 and hold the lions to 28, but the Trojans were 6-24 from behind the three-point line and shot 55 percent from the free-throw line.

Up Next: The Trojans will have a week off before they travel to Cookeville, Tennessee, to take on Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1 pm.