Troy University Athletics
Saturday, December 17
Hammond, La.
1 p.m.
Troy University
8-4,0-0Sun Belt
77
at
71
Southeastern Louisiana
5-7,0-1Southland
1
2
F
Troy
37
40
77
Southeastern La.
37
34
71
Kieffer Punter Scores Career High; Troy Obtains Revenge Over Southeastern Louisiana
12/17/2022 3:48:00 PM | Basketball (M)
HAMMOND, La. – On Saturday afternoon at the University Center, a career-high 19-point performance on 5-of-9 shooting from Kieffer Punter lifts Troy over Southeastern Louisiana, 77-71.
The Trojans (8-4) secured their first road win since Montana on Nov. 19 while capturing their revenge after last season's loss to the Lions (5-7).
In 32 minutes, Punter netted a career-high 19 points and tied another with eight free throws. The senior guard grabbed six rebounds and led the team with five assists. Off the bench, Aamer Muhammad and Christyon Eugene exploded for double figures – seventh straight game Eugene scored double-digits.
Nick Caldwell came off the bench for a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 50 percent shooting. Brody Rowbury and Christian Agnew also finished in double figures despite falling for the team's second straight loss.
Coming Through in the Clutch
Each time Troy began to secure a lead, Caldwell would light up the scoreboard to flip the script. At the 13:42 mark of the second, Caldwell received an assist from Boogie Anderson down low for the layup and the lead, 64-63.
The Trojans kept responding, retaking the lead on two occasions before Southeastern Louisiana tied the game, 69-69, on an and-one conversion from Roger McFarlane with 4:07 remaining.
Muhammad drove into the lane on the next possession, missing his reverse layup but securing the offensive rebound. The transfer dished it to Eugene, who launched into the lane to draw the foul after the make with 3:38 remaining, 72-69.
The Trojans, who struggled from the free throw line all game, shot 6-of-9 from the charity stripe in the final three minutes. On the other end, Southeastern Louisiana shot 2-of-4 from the line and 0-of-3 from the field to fall in back-to-back games, 77-71.
First Half Comeback
Caldwell extended the Lions' lead to a game-high nine points with 6:25 left in the first on a layup to complete an 11-1 run for Southeastern Lousiana.
Jackson Fields was subbed in and responded 0:11 later with a make from deep that came off the assist of Eugene, 27-21.
After a make from Eastmond on the fastbreak, Fields kept things going, driving into the lane to convert the and-one at the 14:36 mark in the first, 29-23.
Both teams traded a pair of shots, bringing the score to 32-26 off a free throw from Caldwell. Punter got sent to the line for two points on the next possession, followed by a 3-pointer from Eugene off a Lions' turnover to cut the deficit to one, 32-31.
Muhammad ensured the Trojans walked into halftime tied after scoring five-straight points to match the Lions, 37-37.
Head Coach Scott Cross
"I'm very grateful that our guys responded in the second half. It was a great second half. We got the stops we needed. I knew that this was going to be tough just watching them. They were going to give us their best shot. Defense, rebounding and toughness travel. And our guys stepped up. Punter is a true leader for us. There was a timeout where he brought the guys together and got them fired up. Sometimes it takes a moment like that where the team can respond. When a teammate does something like that, it has a different effect. Jackson Fields continues to get better for us as well. He's very coachable. We're a little bit short-handed, but we are very fortunate the guys we got are in great shape and played their hearts out."
Hammond Hot Numbers
• Troy ramped up its shooting late in the first half. When the Trojans were down nine, 27-18, the team shot 42.1 percent from the field. In their comeback, the Trojans shot 46.2 percent.
• Punter was instrumental in the first-half comeback for Troy. In 18 minutes, the senior led the team with nine points and four assists.
• At the 12:05 mark of the second half, Fields hit a new career-high in points with eight off a slam dunk from Darius McNeill.
• The Trojans lost the offensive rebounding battle, 14-13 but dominated with 21 second-chance points compared to the Lions' 13.
Early Christmas Present
On Wednesday, Troy competes in its last nonconference game when the team welcomes Mercer to Trojan Arena with tipoff set for 6 p.m.
The Trojans (8-4) secured their first road win since Montana on Nov. 19 while capturing their revenge after last season's loss to the Lions (5-7).
In 32 minutes, Punter netted a career-high 19 points and tied another with eight free throws. The senior guard grabbed six rebounds and led the team with five assists. Off the bench, Aamer Muhammad and Christyon Eugene exploded for double figures – seventh straight game Eugene scored double-digits.
Nick Caldwell came off the bench for a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 50 percent shooting. Brody Rowbury and Christian Agnew also finished in double figures despite falling for the team's second straight loss.
Coming Through in the Clutch
Each time Troy began to secure a lead, Caldwell would light up the scoreboard to flip the script. At the 13:42 mark of the second, Caldwell received an assist from Boogie Anderson down low for the layup and the lead, 64-63.
The Trojans kept responding, retaking the lead on two occasions before Southeastern Louisiana tied the game, 69-69, on an and-one conversion from Roger McFarlane with 4:07 remaining.
Muhammad drove into the lane on the next possession, missing his reverse layup but securing the offensive rebound. The transfer dished it to Eugene, who launched into the lane to draw the foul after the make with 3:38 remaining, 72-69.
The Trojans, who struggled from the free throw line all game, shot 6-of-9 from the charity stripe in the final three minutes. On the other end, Southeastern Louisiana shot 2-of-4 from the line and 0-of-3 from the field to fall in back-to-back games, 77-71.
First Half Comeback
Caldwell extended the Lions' lead to a game-high nine points with 6:25 left in the first on a layup to complete an 11-1 run for Southeastern Lousiana.
Jackson Fields was subbed in and responded 0:11 later with a make from deep that came off the assist of Eugene, 27-21.
After a make from Eastmond on the fastbreak, Fields kept things going, driving into the lane to convert the and-one at the 14:36 mark in the first, 29-23.
Both teams traded a pair of shots, bringing the score to 32-26 off a free throw from Caldwell. Punter got sent to the line for two points on the next possession, followed by a 3-pointer from Eugene off a Lions' turnover to cut the deficit to one, 32-31.
Muhammad ensured the Trojans walked into halftime tied after scoring five-straight points to match the Lions, 37-37.
Head Coach Scott Cross
"I'm very grateful that our guys responded in the second half. It was a great second half. We got the stops we needed. I knew that this was going to be tough just watching them. They were going to give us their best shot. Defense, rebounding and toughness travel. And our guys stepped up. Punter is a true leader for us. There was a timeout where he brought the guys together and got them fired up. Sometimes it takes a moment like that where the team can respond. When a teammate does something like that, it has a different effect. Jackson Fields continues to get better for us as well. He's very coachable. We're a little bit short-handed, but we are very fortunate the guys we got are in great shape and played their hearts out."
Hammond Hot Numbers
• Troy ramped up its shooting late in the first half. When the Trojans were down nine, 27-18, the team shot 42.1 percent from the field. In their comeback, the Trojans shot 46.2 percent.
• Punter was instrumental in the first-half comeback for Troy. In 18 minutes, the senior led the team with nine points and four assists.
• At the 12:05 mark of the second half, Fields hit a new career-high in points with eight off a slam dunk from Darius McNeill.
• The Trojans lost the offensive rebounding battle, 14-13 but dominated with 21 second-chance points compared to the Lions' 13.
Early Christmas Present
On Wednesday, Troy competes in its last nonconference game when the team welcomes Mercer to Trojan Arena with tipoff set for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
TROY
SL
FG%
.441
.441
3FG%
.219
.400
FT%
.692
.786
RB
33
39
TO
10
15
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Basketball (M)
F
/ Basketball (M)
G
/ Basketball (M)G
/ Basketball (M)G
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