Troy’s Perfect Start Ends at the Buzzer

Friday, November 18

Missoula, Mont.

6 p.m.

Troy University

4-1,0-0Sun Belt

St. Thomas

3-2,0-0Summit League

Troy

St. Thomas (MN)

11/18/2022 9:34:00 PM | Basketball (M)

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MISSOULA, Mont. – The historic 4-0 start to the 2022-23 season for Troy ends in game two of the Zootown Classic with a 78-76 loss on Friday night to St. Thomas on a last-second shot from Andrew Rohde.

For the first time this season, the Trojans (4-1) fall to end the first 4-0 start in Division-I program history at the Dahlberg Arena. However, the Trojans are still off to their best start since the 2002-03 season.

Duke Miles willed the team in the second half, scoring the final nine points for Troy to finish with 19 on 6-of-10 shooting. Nelson Phillips and Kieffer Punter ended in double figures on a combined 11-of-20 from the field.

Four different Tommies (3-2) found their way into double figures, but it was Rodhe with the heroics with 16 points, including the game-winner.

At the Buzzer
With 5:33 remaining, the game turned into a grudge match as Punter grabbed his own miss for the putback and-one to take the 66-60 lead.

The following three possessions saw two controversial class B technical calls for flopping and a 3-pointer from Riley Miller to bring Troy's lead down to three, 67-64, with 5:05 left.

The final four minutes had Miles doing everything he could to propel Troy to victory with nine straight points – only Trojan to score in the last five minutes.

However, with everything Miles did, the Tommies responded with more. It culminated in back-to-back threes for the Tommies to give them the 74-71 lead with 1:26 in the ballgame.

Miles wasn't finished, matching the latest three by fighting through the defense for the and-one conversion to tie the game back up, 74-74, with 0:58 on the clock.

A critical fifth and final foul on Zay Williams sent him to the bench and Brooks Allen to the charity stripe, where he converted both for the 76-74 lead with 0:34 remaining.

On the other end, just 10 seconds later, Miles curved his way to the basket, leaving no choice for the Tommies other than to foul and send him to the line. Miles was clutch with both makes to tie it up at 76.

The Tommies had the final possession and let the clock run down to set up for the final shot. St. Thomas looked for the three before sending it down low to Rohde in the paint. Rohde backed down Miles and put up the shot with two ticks remaining to call the ballgame and send Troy out with its first loss, 78-76.

Part Two Thoughts from Scott Cross
"They were the tougher team, and that's why they won. We did get some hustle points and did some good things, but overall, they finished over us. They finished through us. They got points in the paint. They created open shots for their team and didn't give us any open looks. We let one slip. This one hurt. This is a game where we lead for 35 minutes, but it was one guy each possession taking a play off. And when you take a play off, that's when they get you. And they made us pay tonight."

Game Two Numbers
• Both teams shot efficiently in all facets of the game, but free throws played the more prominent role, as Troy shot 81.3 percent from the charity stripe compared to St. Thomas's 93.3.
• Miles was the leading scorer for Troy for the second time this season. This time he hit a season-high 19 points, along with two rebounds, four assists and a steal.
• Troy dominated most of the game, holding the lead for 35:10.
• Despite losing, the Trojans won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Tommies 34-23. In terms of offensive rebounds, Troy ended with 11 to St. Thomas's one.

Zootown Finale
Tomorrow marks the finale of the Zootown Classic as Troy battles the host team of Montana in hopes of returning to winning ways at 8:30 p.m.