Troy University Athletics
Thursday, January 4
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Old Dominion
Troy Welcomes Old Dominion for Conference Home Opener
1/3/2024 11:39:00 AM | Basketball (M)
Troy, Ala. — After a strong conference opening win last weekend, the Troy men's basketball team returns to Trojan Arena to host Old Dominion in its conference home opener on Thursday night.
The Trojans took down the Chanticleers in Conway, S.C., last Saturday, 72-65, and look to extend its two-game winning streak on Thursday.
Thursday will be just the second all-time matchup between the Trojans and Monarchs. Old Dominion is coming off a 61-59 loss to South Alabama on Saturday.
Game Information
The Matchup: Old Dominion (4-9, 0-1 SBC) at Troy (7-6, 1-0 SBC)
Location: Troy, Ala. — Trojan Arena (5,200)
When: Thursday, January 4, 2024 — 6 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: Dollar Night in Trojan Arena
Hitting Its Stride
After a difficult non-conference slate that saw Troy teetering at or below .500, the Trojans finally appear to be hitting their stride. After defeating Eastern Kentucky in its final game non-conference game, Troy won back-to-back games for the first time all season when they defeated Coastal Carolina in the conference opener.
Christyon Eugene, who has led the Trojans all season, continued his impressive play on Saturday afternoon. He scored 20 points — his fourth game this season in which he has scored 20 or more points — and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. He is leading the team in scoring at 16.4 points per game, which is third in the conference.
It wasn't just Eugene who impressed in South Carolina, though, as Myles Rigsby also scored 20 points and had nine rebounds — both career-highs.
Rigsby had the best shooting performance of his young career, going 4-5 from 3-point range. He also had two clutch steals down the stretch, which helped the Trojans run away with the victory.
Troy's defense was on full display Saturday, forcing the Chanticleer offense into uncomfortable situations, leading to 10 turnovers.
Troy is forcing 15.38 turnovers per game, which is second in the Sun Belt and 39th in the country. The Trojans also average 9.5 steals per game, 26th in the country and second in the Sun Belt.
In addition to the physical defense that Troy plays, the Trojans have kept that physicality on the offensive end. That has led to Troy taking a high volume of free throw attempts.
It has taken more free throw attempts than any team in the Sun Belt and is making 17.2 per game, which is 29th nationally and first in the SBC. Rigsby leads Troy with 52 made free throws.
Scouting Old Dominion
The only meeting between the two teams came on Jan. 5, 2023, at Trojan Arena, which Troy won 78-71.
The Monarchs have had a tough start to the 2023-24 campaign, and their conference opener came down to the wire against South Alabama as they fell 61-59.
Vasean Allette is leading Old Dominion with 15.8 points. Allete is also second on the team with 5.3 rebounds. Chaunce Jenkins is averaging 15 points per game. Jenkins was named Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.
Conference Home Opener Notes
• Since the hiring of Scott Cross in 2019, Troy is 40-20 at Trojan Arena, including 6-1 this season. In the 2022-23 season, Troy was 11-3 at Trojan Arena, including 7-2 during conference play.
• Troy is playing its best two-game stretch of the season so far, and a key reason why has been its ability to protect the basketball. The Trojans have turned it over just 15 times over the last two games (5 vs. Eastern Ky., ten vs. CCU).
• Over the last two seasons, Troy was the only team in the SBC to win 10-plus conference games and 20-plus overall games in both seasons.
• Christyon Eugene was named a Sun Belt All-Conference Player of 2023 by HoopsHD.
• Troy has 42 combined starts by players who had not started a D-I game prior to this season.
The Trojans took down the Chanticleers in Conway, S.C., last Saturday, 72-65, and look to extend its two-game winning streak on Thursday.
Thursday will be just the second all-time matchup between the Trojans and Monarchs. Old Dominion is coming off a 61-59 loss to South Alabama on Saturday.
Game Information
The Matchup: Old Dominion (4-9, 0-1 SBC) at Troy (7-6, 1-0 SBC)
Location: Troy, Ala. — Trojan Arena (5,200)
When: Thursday, January 4, 2024 — 6 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: Dollar Night in Trojan Arena
Hitting Its Stride
After a difficult non-conference slate that saw Troy teetering at or below .500, the Trojans finally appear to be hitting their stride. After defeating Eastern Kentucky in its final game non-conference game, Troy won back-to-back games for the first time all season when they defeated Coastal Carolina in the conference opener.
Christyon Eugene, who has led the Trojans all season, continued his impressive play on Saturday afternoon. He scored 20 points — his fourth game this season in which he has scored 20 or more points — and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. He is leading the team in scoring at 16.4 points per game, which is third in the conference.
It wasn't just Eugene who impressed in South Carolina, though, as Myles Rigsby also scored 20 points and had nine rebounds — both career-highs.
Rigsby had the best shooting performance of his young career, going 4-5 from 3-point range. He also had two clutch steals down the stretch, which helped the Trojans run away with the victory.
Troy's defense was on full display Saturday, forcing the Chanticleer offense into uncomfortable situations, leading to 10 turnovers.
Troy is forcing 15.38 turnovers per game, which is second in the Sun Belt and 39th in the country. The Trojans also average 9.5 steals per game, 26th in the country and second in the Sun Belt.
In addition to the physical defense that Troy plays, the Trojans have kept that physicality on the offensive end. That has led to Troy taking a high volume of free throw attempts.
It has taken more free throw attempts than any team in the Sun Belt and is making 17.2 per game, which is 29th nationally and first in the SBC. Rigsby leads Troy with 52 made free throws.
Scouting Old Dominion
The only meeting between the two teams came on Jan. 5, 2023, at Trojan Arena, which Troy won 78-71.
The Monarchs have had a tough start to the 2023-24 campaign, and their conference opener came down to the wire against South Alabama as they fell 61-59.
Vasean Allette is leading Old Dominion with 15.8 points. Allete is also second on the team with 5.3 rebounds. Chaunce Jenkins is averaging 15 points per game. Jenkins was named Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.
Conference Home Opener Notes
• Since the hiring of Scott Cross in 2019, Troy is 40-20 at Trojan Arena, including 6-1 this season. In the 2022-23 season, Troy was 11-3 at Trojan Arena, including 7-2 during conference play.
• Troy is playing its best two-game stretch of the season so far, and a key reason why has been its ability to protect the basketball. The Trojans have turned it over just 15 times over the last two games (5 vs. Eastern Ky., ten vs. CCU).
• Over the last two seasons, Troy was the only team in the SBC to win 10-plus conference games and 20-plus overall games in both seasons.
• Christyon Eugene was named a Sun Belt All-Conference Player of 2023 by HoopsHD.
• Troy has 42 combined starts by players who had not started a D-I game prior to this season.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Basketball (M)
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