Troy University Athletics
Thursday, March 2
Pensacola, Fla.
2 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Arkansas State
No. 5-Seed Troy Opens Sun Belt Tournament Against No. 13-Seed Arkansas State
3/1/2023 12:09:00 PM | Basketball (M)
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Coming in as the No. 5 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament, the Troy men's basketball team opens its championship run against No. 13 seed Arkansas State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. in the Pensacola Bay Center.
Thursday marks the third time the Trojans (19-11, 11-7 SBC) compete against the Red Wolves (13-19, 4-14 SBC), having swept ASU in the regular season.
The Trojans continue to make history, led by head coach Scott Cross, who has shown Troy to back-to-back 10-win seasons in the SBC and at home. As a team, they are one win away from back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2002-04.
Game Information
Location: Pensacola, Fla. – Pensacola Bay Center
The Matchup: No. 5 Troy (19-11, 11-7 SBC) vs. No. 13 Arkansas State (13-19, 4-14 SBC)
When: Thursday, March 2 – 2 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Win Streak and All-Sun Belt
Troy has been rolling over its last seven games, winning six of them, with the lone loss coming against Marshall on the road, 88-78. The most recent win for the Trojans came 95-74 over Coastal Carolina after a season-high 17 made threes.
Last season, the Trojans made it to the semifinal round before being knocked out by Louisiana. This season, the Trojans head into the tournament with All-Sun Belt Second Team Zay Williams and the most efficient defense in the SBC in conference play, according to Kenpom Stats.
How'd the Red Wolves Get Here
The Red Wolves struggled through the regular season, losing four of their last six, with the only wins coming against ULM and Georgia State. One of their losses came against the Trojans, 67-62, after choking out a 10-point lead with 13:31 to go.
In the first round, ASU matched up against the Chanticleers, and it was never a contest. Despite CCU hanging in through the first half, ASU scored 52 points in the second half, as Terrance Ford Jr. led the team with 25 points. Markise Davis provided 20 on four made threes off the bench to push them to the next round.
After having a double-double against CCU in the first round, ASU's leading scorer Omar El-Sheikh now averages a team-high 11.5 points and 9.7 rebounds. Defensively, the graduate student also averages one steal and 0.7 blocks a game. Behind him are Caleb Fields and Ford Jr., who average double-figures with 11.3 and 10.8 points, respectively.
ASU comes into the second round with the lowest-scoring offense in the SBC, with 62.7 points per game on the 13th-best field goal percentage at 40.3 percent. Things aren't much better on defense, with the worst-ranked field goal percentage allowed at 45.9 percent to match with the 10th-best scoring defense at 70.2 points allowed.
Third Time Matchup
• The Trojans have a solid history in the first round of the SBC, with Cross having gone 2-0 with wins over UT-Arlington in 2021 and Little Rock in 2022.
• If the Trojans can grab the 20th win in the season, it would mark the seventh year that Cross has acclimated 20 wins – second with the Trojans.
• Williams enters the SBC Tournament as an All-Sun Belt Second Team member after leading the Trojans in points, points per game, rebounds, field goal percentage (min. 10 shots) and blocks.
• Through two games played against the Red Wolves in 2022-23, the Trojans are 2-0, with the average margin of victory being 8.5.
• Troy gained its respect by entering as the fifth seed in the SBC tournament after being picked 10th in the preseason polls.
Thursday marks the third time the Trojans (19-11, 11-7 SBC) compete against the Red Wolves (13-19, 4-14 SBC), having swept ASU in the regular season.
The Trojans continue to make history, led by head coach Scott Cross, who has shown Troy to back-to-back 10-win seasons in the SBC and at home. As a team, they are one win away from back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2002-04.
Game Information
Location: Pensacola, Fla. – Pensacola Bay Center
The Matchup: No. 5 Troy (19-11, 11-7 SBC) vs. No. 13 Arkansas State (13-19, 4-14 SBC)
When: Thursday, March 2 – 2 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Win Streak and All-Sun Belt
Troy has been rolling over its last seven games, winning six of them, with the lone loss coming against Marshall on the road, 88-78. The most recent win for the Trojans came 95-74 over Coastal Carolina after a season-high 17 made threes.
Last season, the Trojans made it to the semifinal round before being knocked out by Louisiana. This season, the Trojans head into the tournament with All-Sun Belt Second Team Zay Williams and the most efficient defense in the SBC in conference play, according to Kenpom Stats.
How'd the Red Wolves Get Here
The Red Wolves struggled through the regular season, losing four of their last six, with the only wins coming against ULM and Georgia State. One of their losses came against the Trojans, 67-62, after choking out a 10-point lead with 13:31 to go.
In the first round, ASU matched up against the Chanticleers, and it was never a contest. Despite CCU hanging in through the first half, ASU scored 52 points in the second half, as Terrance Ford Jr. led the team with 25 points. Markise Davis provided 20 on four made threes off the bench to push them to the next round.
After having a double-double against CCU in the first round, ASU's leading scorer Omar El-Sheikh now averages a team-high 11.5 points and 9.7 rebounds. Defensively, the graduate student also averages one steal and 0.7 blocks a game. Behind him are Caleb Fields and Ford Jr., who average double-figures with 11.3 and 10.8 points, respectively.
ASU comes into the second round with the lowest-scoring offense in the SBC, with 62.7 points per game on the 13th-best field goal percentage at 40.3 percent. Things aren't much better on defense, with the worst-ranked field goal percentage allowed at 45.9 percent to match with the 10th-best scoring defense at 70.2 points allowed.
Third Time Matchup
• The Trojans have a solid history in the first round of the SBC, with Cross having gone 2-0 with wins over UT-Arlington in 2021 and Little Rock in 2022.
• If the Trojans can grab the 20th win in the season, it would mark the seventh year that Cross has acclimated 20 wins – second with the Trojans.
• Williams enters the SBC Tournament as an All-Sun Belt Second Team member after leading the Trojans in points, points per game, rebounds, field goal percentage (min. 10 shots) and blocks.
• Through two games played against the Red Wolves in 2022-23, the Trojans are 2-0, with the average margin of victory being 8.5.
• Troy gained its respect by entering as the fifth seed in the SBC tournament after being picked 10th in the preseason polls.
Players Mentioned
F
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