Troy University Athletics
Monday, November 7
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Montevallo
Men’s Basketball Welcomes Montevallo to Open 2022-23 Season
11/6/2022 4:04:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Revamped with a brand-new, fast-paced roster, Troy men's basketball begins the 2022-23 season with its home opener in Trojan Arena against Montevallo on Monday at 6 p.m.
The Trojans and Falcons haven't met since the 1991-92 season, with the Trojans leading the series 19-14 overall. At home, Troy dominates the series with an 11-5 advantage.
After an impressive 2021-22 season that saw Troy end a five-year postseason drought while accumulating 20 wins and a Sun Belt semifinal appearance, the expectations are high for head coach Scott Cross, who is entering his fourth season.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Montevallo (0-0, 0-0 GSC)
When: Monday, Nov. 6 – 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - $7
Review of 2021-22
2021-22 was one for the history books as the team seized their fourth 20-win season since the turn of the century and the first in Cross's tenure. The Trojans also managed to advance their way into the SBC semifinal round before exiting to Louisiana.
Only nine players return from last season's College Basketball Invitational roster, with Zay Williams as the only returning starter. Williams received a Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team nod after averaging 7.8 points and 6.5 rebounds on a team-high 24.9 minutes.
Seniors Lydell Geffrard and Kieffer Punter join Williams as veteran returners from last year. In addition, Duke Miles returns for his sophomore season after playing in 17 games last year. Despite playing for 370 minutes, Miles led the team in steals at 40.
Cross revamped this roster with nine newcomers split with three transfers, three scholarship freshmen and three walk-ons. Darius McNeill joins the Trojans from UTSA after averaging 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and one steal in 23.9 minutes. With the Roadrunners, McNeill logged six double-digit games last season with a season-high of 20 points.
Falcons First-Round Exit
The Falcons come off a 12-17 season where the team struggled on the road with a 3-9 record. Montevallo had a first-round exit at the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a 79-62 loss to Union.
Braxton Bertolette enters his graduate student season after an impressive 2021-22 season. In 29 games, Bertolette made 21 starts to average a team-high 15.9 points.
Head coach Anthony Komara made his coaching debut for the Falcons last Wednesday, falling to Westen Kentucky in an exhibition game, 93-65. Monday, he prepares his team for their second exhibition game of the year in Trojan Arena.
Season Opener Numbers to Watch
• Tied for the 34th highest-scoring performance in Troy history, Dennis Garrett netted 34 points against Montevallo on Dec. 15, 1984.
• The last time Troy played the Falcons was in 1991 when the Trojans won 92-89, which marked the third lowest scoring game for Troy that season - lowest was 84 against Florida Southern.
• Troy scored 2,214 total points last season. However, after graduation and the transfer portal, the Trojans retained just 830 points in terms of roster players.
• Zay Williams continues his rise in the rankings of Troy's greatest. After 17 blocks and 196 rebounds, Williams rose to fifth in career rebounding numbers at 576 and seventh in career blocks at 81.
• Defensively, Troy dominated in their 20-win season last year. Their steal numbers received national attention, ranking 53rd with 7.9 per game.
• Troy opens its season in Trojan Arena for the second straight season, defeating Carver 104-42 last season.
The Trojans and Falcons haven't met since the 1991-92 season, with the Trojans leading the series 19-14 overall. At home, Troy dominates the series with an 11-5 advantage.
After an impressive 2021-22 season that saw Troy end a five-year postseason drought while accumulating 20 wins and a Sun Belt semifinal appearance, the expectations are high for head coach Scott Cross, who is entering his fourth season.
Game Information
Location: Troy, Ala. – Trojan Arena
The Matchup: Troy (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Montevallo (0-0, 0-0 GSC)
When: Monday, Nov. 6 – 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - $7
Review of 2021-22
2021-22 was one for the history books as the team seized their fourth 20-win season since the turn of the century and the first in Cross's tenure. The Trojans also managed to advance their way into the SBC semifinal round before exiting to Louisiana.
Only nine players return from last season's College Basketball Invitational roster, with Zay Williams as the only returning starter. Williams received a Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team nod after averaging 7.8 points and 6.5 rebounds on a team-high 24.9 minutes.
Seniors Lydell Geffrard and Kieffer Punter join Williams as veteran returners from last year. In addition, Duke Miles returns for his sophomore season after playing in 17 games last year. Despite playing for 370 minutes, Miles led the team in steals at 40.
Cross revamped this roster with nine newcomers split with three transfers, three scholarship freshmen and three walk-ons. Darius McNeill joins the Trojans from UTSA after averaging 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and one steal in 23.9 minutes. With the Roadrunners, McNeill logged six double-digit games last season with a season-high of 20 points.
Falcons First-Round Exit
The Falcons come off a 12-17 season where the team struggled on the road with a 3-9 record. Montevallo had a first-round exit at the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a 79-62 loss to Union.
Braxton Bertolette enters his graduate student season after an impressive 2021-22 season. In 29 games, Bertolette made 21 starts to average a team-high 15.9 points.
Head coach Anthony Komara made his coaching debut for the Falcons last Wednesday, falling to Westen Kentucky in an exhibition game, 93-65. Monday, he prepares his team for their second exhibition game of the year in Trojan Arena.
Season Opener Numbers to Watch
• Tied for the 34th highest-scoring performance in Troy history, Dennis Garrett netted 34 points against Montevallo on Dec. 15, 1984.
• The last time Troy played the Falcons was in 1991 when the Trojans won 92-89, which marked the third lowest scoring game for Troy that season - lowest was 84 against Florida Southern.
• Troy scored 2,214 total points last season. However, after graduation and the transfer portal, the Trojans retained just 830 points in terms of roster players.
• Zay Williams continues his rise in the rankings of Troy's greatest. After 17 blocks and 196 rebounds, Williams rose to fifth in career rebounding numbers at 576 and seventh in career blocks at 81.
• Defensively, Troy dominated in their 20-win season last year. Their steal numbers received national attention, ranking 53rd with 7.9 per game.
• Troy opens its season in Trojan Arena for the second straight season, defeating Carver 104-42 last season.
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