Zay Williams Hits 500 Point Milestone, but Troy Falls to Georgia Southern

Saturday, February 6

Troy, Ala.

4 p.m.

Troy University

10-10,4-6Sun Belt

Georgia Southern

12-9,6-6Sun Belt

Ga. Southern

Troy

Zay Williams Hits 500 Point Milestone, but Troy Falls to Georgia Southern

2/6/2021 7:37:00 PM | Basketball (M)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. -- Despite 11 points and 15 rebounds from Zay Williams who reached the 500-point plateau, and 21 points and five rebounds from Duke Miles, the Troy men's basketball program saw its four-game overall winning streak and seven-game home winning streak snapped, falling 79-64 Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena.

After trailing by as many as 21, the Trojans (10-10, 4-6 Sun Belt) orchestrated a furious second half comeback that cut the Georgia Southern (12-9, 6-6 Sun Belt) lead to just 10 with 6:13 to play and to nine with 3:41 to play, but a pair of runs from the Eagles sealed the victory.

The Eagles saw five players reach double-figures led by Andrei Savrasov (14 points, 4-4 3-pt) and Kam Bryant (12 points).

After scoring 10 of the first 15 points to open a 10-5 lead with 12:59 to play, Troy allowed the next nine, as Georgia Southern used the run to take a 14-10 lead with 10:44 to play.

A triple from Desmond Williams cut the Troy deficit to 14-13 with 10:17 to play, but another triple from Gedi Juozapaitis gave the Eagles a 17-13 lead with 9:22 left.

Following a Nick Stampley (12 points) layup cut the Georgia Southern lead to just 17-15 with 8:54 to play, the Eagles would score 20 of the next 25 points to take a first-half high 17-point lead.

Down the stretch, the Trojans were able to cut the 37-20 Eagles lead to 39-27 at the break. After the Trojans opened the half with a bucket from Zay Williams to cut the deficit to just 39-29, the Eagles used a 15-4 run to take a 54-33 lead with 13:15 to play.

Troy came alive over the next three minutes and change, using an 11-1 run to cut the Eagles lead to just 55-44 with 9:38 to play.

Troy would score six of the next 10, to cut the Georgia Southern lead to 61-51, but a pair of free throws and a Cam Bryant jumper increased the Eagles to 14 points with 4:33 to play.

An and-one layup from Jakevan Leftridge and a Miles layup brought Troy to within 65-56 with 3:41 to play and brought the Trojan Arena crowd to its feet, but back-to-back dagger triples from Juozapaitis gave the visitors a commanding 71-56 lead.

In defeat, the Trojans hit 20-of-22 free throws and outrebounded Georgia Southern for the second consecutive night.

Troy returns to action Thursday night when the Trojans make the short trip down to South Alabama. Tip-off from the Mitchell Center is set for 6 p.m.

HEAD COACH SCOTT CROSS:
"The story of the game was the first half turnovers. Our 10 turnovers led to way too many easy baskets for them. No matter how good your defense is, it's hard to defend when the opponent has a three-on-two or a four-versus-three advantage. We committed way too many unforced turnovers, which ended up being the difference in the game. We didn't come out with the same toughness and mentality that we did last night. Yesterday we gave them no open looks and today we let them get comfortable. They made a couple of threes in our face and got their confidence going. And then from there they had a great offensive performance."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Miles increased his career-high for the second time this weekend and the third time in five days.
• The Trojans closed the season-long five game homestand 4-1.
• The Trojans fall to 0-8 this season when trailing at the break.
• Troy trailed at the half for the first time since Jan. 16 (seven games).
• The Trojans are now just 1-6 on Saturday's this season and are 1-4 in the weekend finale in Sun Belt play.
• Troy fell at Trojan Arena for the first time since Mar. 3 of last season against UT-Arlington.
• Tonight's game marks just the fifth time in 15 games that Troy won the rebounding battle and lost.
• Freshman Kam Woods missed the contest with an ankle injury. Woods recorded a pair of 20-point games in Statesboro.
• Georgia Southern hit seven triples in the first half and shot an opponent-best 58 percent from 3-point range tonight.
• Troy falls to 1-9 this season when the opponent shoots a better percentage.