Troy University Athletics
Thursday, January 26
Lafayette, La.
7 p.m.
Troy University
at
Louisiana
Troy Seeks Retribution in Lafayette
1/25/2023 12:16:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – Louisiana halted Troy's historic season in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals last season. On Thursday at 7 p.m., Troy gets its chance at revenge when the team meets ULL at the Cajundome.
Both teams sit atop the standings with the Trojans (13-8, 5-3 SBC) in a three-way tie for fourth while the Ragin' Cajuns (16-4, 6-2 SBC) are in a three-way tie for first – one game separates first through sixth.
To be victorious, the Trojans must break a seven-game losing streak to Louisiana, with the team's last victory coming 100-88 on Feb. 11, 2017, in Lafayette.
Game Information
Location: Lafayette, La. – Cajundome
The Matchup: Troy (13-8, 5-3 SBC) vs. Louisiana (16-4, 6-2 SBC)
When: Thursday, Jan. 26 – 7 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Back to Winning Ways
Troy was lethal from behind the arc in the 77-53 win over ULM to end a two-game losing streak. Aamer Muhammad led the Trojans with five 3-pointers, while Zay Williams, Kieffer Punter, Darius McNeill, Christyon Eugene and Jackson Fields combined for the other eight.
ULM tied the ballgame, 32-32, 1:12 into the second after Savion Gallion pulled up for two points and opened a 5-1 run.
The Trojans quickly fired back with 12 straight points on three 3-pointers to hold the 44-32 lead after Punter capitalized on a Warhawk turnover to end the run with 15:44 remaining.
From there, the Trojans kept their foot on the gas pedal to victory, pushing their lead to as much as 31 at the 15:19 mark after Nate Tshimanga hit a free throw, 75-44.
Revenge
The start to conference play wasn't ideal for Louisiana after falling to Coastal Carolina, 77-76, and Old Dominion, 70-66. However, since the 0-2 start, the Ragin' Cajuns have rattled off six straight wins.
Saturday night, Greg Williams Jr. scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to propel the Cajuns to victory against Texas State. The win kept Louisiana tied with Marshall and Southern Miss for first in the SBC.
Louisiana continues to be elite, shooting the ball with an SBC-best 49.6 percent from the field through 20 games. The Cajuns also lead the conference in 3-point percentage, going 39.7 percent off 390 attempts – converted 155 shots. Where they lack is limiting the opposition after ranking 13th in field goal and 3-point percentage allowed.
Preseason player of the year Jordan Brown is proving everyone right as the second-best scorer in the SBC with 19.8 points per game. He also ranks sixth in rebounding with 7.9, alongside Terence Lewis II in fifth (8.0). In addition, the junior from Arizona is solid defensively, with the fifth-most blocks per game at 1.45.
Cajundome Stats
• Thursday is the first meeting between the programs since ULL ended Troy's tournament run last March. The highest-scoring returner from that game is Eugene, who finished with four points.
• Nelson Phillips enters the Cajundome after claiming his 10th career 3-plus assist game. Six of those have come this season with Troy as a senior.
• For the second straight game, Muhammad has led the Trojans in scoring after a 20-point performance over ULM – scored 17 against James Madison.
• The 3-point arc played in the Trojans' favor in the win over ULM, shooting a season-high 52 percent on 13 makes. The 52 percent was the first time since the game against SUNO on Nov. 23 that the Trojans shot above 50 percent from behind the arc.
• One statistic that will play a role for both teams is the 3-point percentage. Up to this point in the season, the Trojans have allowed their opponent to shoot an SBC second-best 30.7 percent from deep, while the Cajuns shoot 39.6 percent – ranked first in SBC.
• The last seven meetings have favored the Ragin Cajuns, with the average margin of victory being 8.86. In those seven meetings, three were decided by five points or less.
• The free throw line is a strength for the Trojans despite starting the year slow in non-conference play. Troy shot above 70 percent in seven of its 13 non-conference games (53.8 percent). Since SBC play started, they rank third at 73.6 with 6-of-8 games above 70 (75 percent).
• Troy's assist numbers remain elite through 21 games this season. The Trojans sit fourth in the conference and 91st in the nation in assists per game at 14.5. Muhammad and Eugene lead the Trojans with 2.85 per game.
• The countdown continues for Williams to become seventh in Troy Division-I program history for points scored in a career. If the forward scores 12 points on Thursday, he moves above Rob Lewin on the top-10 list.
• The Trojans continue to use defense as the identity of this roster through eight conference games. In those eight games, Troy averages a Sun Belt Conference-leading 36.4 percent in opponent field goal percentage - second in ODU with 40.7.
• In six of Troy's last seven games, the team has been elite on the defensive end, keeping their conference opponents under 40 percent from the field shooting - allowed 43.8 against James Madison. Through those six games, Troy is 5-1.
• Muhammad sits tied with Nelson Phillips with the most 20-point performances in 2022-23 after his third 20-point game in the win over ULM. Muhammad shot five 3-pointers to secure the victory. His other two 20-point games came against Florida State and San Diego State.
Both teams sit atop the standings with the Trojans (13-8, 5-3 SBC) in a three-way tie for fourth while the Ragin' Cajuns (16-4, 6-2 SBC) are in a three-way tie for first – one game separates first through sixth.
To be victorious, the Trojans must break a seven-game losing streak to Louisiana, with the team's last victory coming 100-88 on Feb. 11, 2017, in Lafayette.
Game Information
Location: Lafayette, La. – Cajundome
The Matchup: Troy (13-8, 5-3 SBC) vs. Louisiana (16-4, 6-2 SBC)
When: Thursday, Jan. 26 – 7 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Back to Winning Ways
Troy was lethal from behind the arc in the 77-53 win over ULM to end a two-game losing streak. Aamer Muhammad led the Trojans with five 3-pointers, while Zay Williams, Kieffer Punter, Darius McNeill, Christyon Eugene and Jackson Fields combined for the other eight.
ULM tied the ballgame, 32-32, 1:12 into the second after Savion Gallion pulled up for two points and opened a 5-1 run.
The Trojans quickly fired back with 12 straight points on three 3-pointers to hold the 44-32 lead after Punter capitalized on a Warhawk turnover to end the run with 15:44 remaining.
From there, the Trojans kept their foot on the gas pedal to victory, pushing their lead to as much as 31 at the 15:19 mark after Nate Tshimanga hit a free throw, 75-44.
Revenge
The start to conference play wasn't ideal for Louisiana after falling to Coastal Carolina, 77-76, and Old Dominion, 70-66. However, since the 0-2 start, the Ragin' Cajuns have rattled off six straight wins.
Saturday night, Greg Williams Jr. scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to propel the Cajuns to victory against Texas State. The win kept Louisiana tied with Marshall and Southern Miss for first in the SBC.
Louisiana continues to be elite, shooting the ball with an SBC-best 49.6 percent from the field through 20 games. The Cajuns also lead the conference in 3-point percentage, going 39.7 percent off 390 attempts – converted 155 shots. Where they lack is limiting the opposition after ranking 13th in field goal and 3-point percentage allowed.
Preseason player of the year Jordan Brown is proving everyone right as the second-best scorer in the SBC with 19.8 points per game. He also ranks sixth in rebounding with 7.9, alongside Terence Lewis II in fifth (8.0). In addition, the junior from Arizona is solid defensively, with the fifth-most blocks per game at 1.45.
Cajundome Stats
• Thursday is the first meeting between the programs since ULL ended Troy's tournament run last March. The highest-scoring returner from that game is Eugene, who finished with four points.
• Nelson Phillips enters the Cajundome after claiming his 10th career 3-plus assist game. Six of those have come this season with Troy as a senior.
• For the second straight game, Muhammad has led the Trojans in scoring after a 20-point performance over ULM – scored 17 against James Madison.
• The 3-point arc played in the Trojans' favor in the win over ULM, shooting a season-high 52 percent on 13 makes. The 52 percent was the first time since the game against SUNO on Nov. 23 that the Trojans shot above 50 percent from behind the arc.
• One statistic that will play a role for both teams is the 3-point percentage. Up to this point in the season, the Trojans have allowed their opponent to shoot an SBC second-best 30.7 percent from deep, while the Cajuns shoot 39.6 percent – ranked first in SBC.
• The last seven meetings have favored the Ragin Cajuns, with the average margin of victory being 8.86. In those seven meetings, three were decided by five points or less.
• The free throw line is a strength for the Trojans despite starting the year slow in non-conference play. Troy shot above 70 percent in seven of its 13 non-conference games (53.8 percent). Since SBC play started, they rank third at 73.6 with 6-of-8 games above 70 (75 percent).
• Troy's assist numbers remain elite through 21 games this season. The Trojans sit fourth in the conference and 91st in the nation in assists per game at 14.5. Muhammad and Eugene lead the Trojans with 2.85 per game.
• The countdown continues for Williams to become seventh in Troy Division-I program history for points scored in a career. If the forward scores 12 points on Thursday, he moves above Rob Lewin on the top-10 list.
• The Trojans continue to use defense as the identity of this roster through eight conference games. In those eight games, Troy averages a Sun Belt Conference-leading 36.4 percent in opponent field goal percentage - second in ODU with 40.7.
• In six of Troy's last seven games, the team has been elite on the defensive end, keeping their conference opponents under 40 percent from the field shooting - allowed 43.8 against James Madison. Through those six games, Troy is 5-1.
• Muhammad sits tied with Nelson Phillips with the most 20-point performances in 2022-23 after his third 20-point game in the win over ULM. Muhammad shot five 3-pointers to secure the victory. His other two 20-point games came against Florida State and San Diego State.
Players Mentioned
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