Troy University Athletics
Troy Men’s Basketball Closes Out 2020-21 Road Slate Friday and Saturday at Georgia State
2/18/2021 4:49:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – The Troy Trojans men's basketball program closes out its road scheduled this Friday and Saturday afternoon with a pair of contests at Georgia State.
Friday's 5 p.m. (CT) contest and the Saturday 3 p.m. (CT) finale are the first of just two meetings against the Panthers this season. Originally scheduled to meet in Troy on Jan. 8 and 9, COVID-19 concerns inside the Panthers program necessitated the postponement of one of the games and the cancellation of the finale.
The makeup game scheduled for this past Tuesday night in Trojan Arena was also canceled due to COVID-19 protocols inside the Panthers program.
HOW TO FOLLOW (FRIDAY):
TROY (10-12 Overall, 4-8 Sun Belt) at Georgia State (9-5, 3-4 Sun Belt)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Date: Feb. 19
Time: 5 p.m. (CT)
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Live Stats
Listen: Listen Live
HOW TO FOLLOW (SATURDAY):
TROY (10-12 Overall, 4-8 Sun Belt) at Georgia State (9-5, 3-4 Sun Belt)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Date: Feb. 20
Time: 3 p.m. (CT)
Live Video: Watch
Stats: Live Stats
Listen: Listen Live
THE WEEK THAT WAS (TROY- 10-12, 4-8 Sun Belt):
The Trojans enter the weekend looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The streak began two weeks ago with a tough 79-64 victory. Last Thursday the Trojans dropped a last second heartbreaker to South Alabama. Despite leading for nearly 30 minutes that Trojans dropped a 73-70 decision. In that game senior Nick Stampley scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Duke Miles added 14. Khalyl Waters scored 12, including a career-best three shots from behind the arc. On Saturday, the Trojans were held scoreless for the final seven minutes of the first half, falling behind by 12 points to South. Troy opened the half on a 10-2 outburst, and twice cut the South Alabama lead to just one possession, but South was able to answer each time. In the loss, junior Zay Williams scored 15 points and grabbed a career-best 18 boards, while Miles added 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
THE WEEK THAT WAS (Georgia State- 9-5, 3-4 Sun Belt):
Georgia State will return to action this weekend for the just their third and fourth contests since Jan. 23. After seeing their home weekends cancelled against Appalachian State and South, the Panthers finally returned to action last week playing last Tuesday against South and Thursday against Georgia Southern. After falling to South Alabama 70-67 at the GSU Sports Complex, the Panthers rebounded for a 79-75 victory over the Eagles. In the loss to the Jaguars, Eliel Nsoseme led the way for the Panthers scoring 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Guard Justin Roberts had 15 while Corey Allen had 12. The Jaguars silenced Kane Williams who was held to 2-of-15 shooting and just eight points. In the victory over the Eagles, Georgia State received 21 points from Roberts, 19 from Allen, 14 from Nsoseme and 13 from Williams. The Panthers overcame a slow start, turning a four-point halftime deficit into a four-point win.
STORYLINES:
OME COOKIN'
Troy closed its five-game homestand 4-1 overall. The Trojans had won seven straight at home and four straight overall before falling Saturday afternoon to Georgia Southern. Troy plays four of its final six at Trojan Arena.
LEAVING HIS STAMP
Senior Nick Stampley has scored in double-figures in six of the last seven games for the Trojans. The forward has recorded 11 of his 16 games with at least 10 points this season. Stampley leads the Trojans in points-per-game (12.0) and has scored 51 points, the second-most on the Trojans. Stampley is averaging 14.3 and 6.8 rebounds in conference play.
NO RETURN TRIP
Due to various COVID-19 related concerns inside the Georgia State program, the Trojans two home matchups against Georgia State were canceled. Troy has won three straight home games vs. Georgia State and six of eight.
LAST-SECOND HEARTBREAKER
The Trojans fell last Thursday night despite leading for over 27 minutes of action. The Trojans enjoyed a nine point lead during the first half of action and led by five in the second period. Troy led by two with 93 seconds to play but the Trojans missed a potential dagger triple from the corner.
KEEPING IT LOCAL
After not playing a game in the state of Alabama for over a month, Troy is in the midst of a stretch of eight of 10 games games in the State of Alabama. The Trojans are an impressive 8-4 this season in Alabama. Troy is 7-2 this season at Trojan Arena and defeated North Alabama in Florence back on Dec. 10. Troy dropped a pair of road contests at UAB and Auburn, before suffering its first home last Saturday against Georgia Southern. In total, Troy will play 10 of its final 12 games in the state of Alabama. The lone games outside of Alabama will be this weekend's series at Georgia State (Feb. 19-20).
LIGHTS KAM ACTION
Freshman Kam Woods has been sensational so far this season. The Bessemer, Ala. product currently is second on the 2020-21 Trojans roster in points (11.6), first in 3-pointers made (27) and second in total points scored (208). The freshman currently leads the Sun Belt in points among freshman and has scored at least 20 points in three of his last seven games. Woods has four total 20 point games. The freshman missed Tuesday's contest against Spring Hill and Saturday's matchup against Georgia Southern but is projected to return this weekend.
LOCK DOWN DEFENSE
Troy is 8-2 this season when holding an opponent to six or fewer triples. After dropping a contest at UAB in the first instance, the Trojans had won eight straight games when holding a team to six or fewer triples before Thursday. The Trojans were also 9-0 when holding an opponent to fewer than 30 percent shooting from deep before dropping the game Thursday to South.
ZAY DAY!
Junior Zay Williams contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds Saturday against Georgia Southern to reach 500 career points. Williams is now averaging 11.3 points per game and 8.5 rebounds. Williams ranks fifth in the conference in overall rebounding.
ROARING WATERS
Senior Khalyl Waters continues to impress this season. The combo guard is averaging 8.3 points a game and is shooting an impressive 66-of-74 (89.2%) percent from the line. His 90.0 percent mark is currently ranked 8th in the entire NCAA (min. 50 attempts) and leads the SBC. Waters has recorded at least 20 points twice this season. Waters scored a career-best 21 against Samford on Dec. 16.
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. Troy'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 8-2 when holding a team below 65 points and 8-2 when holding teams to 40 percent shooting or less.
REP THE 'T'
Head coach Scott Cross preaches the mantra that the toughest team always wins. So far this season Troy has taken 54 total charges in 22 games. The Trojans took three charges Friday against Georgia Southern and have taken at least two charges in every game except against where they failed to take one and the weekend finale against Ga Southern last weekend. Troy took 80 charges in 31 games a season ago. Nick Stampley took 32 of those 80 (40 percent). Stampley took his 50th career charge last night in just his 48th career game.
Players Mentioned
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