Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Appalachian State
Troy Men’s Basketball Hosts App State on Saturday Afternoon
1/5/2024 12:35:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. — After coming off back-to-back wins to open Sun Belt play, the Troy Men's basketball team faces as a big test as they welcome App State to Trojan Arena for a 3:33 tip-off on Saturday afternoon.
Troy is off to its first 2-0 conference start since the 2009-2010 season when they picked up wins over the University of New Orleans and ULM.
Saturday marks the 22nd all-time meeting between the Trojans and Mountaineers. App State is coming off a 91-84 overtime victory at South Alabama on Thursday night.
Game Information
The Matchup: App State (11-3, 2-0 SBC) at Troy (8-6, 2-0 SBC)
Location: Troy, Ala. — Trojan Arena (5,200)
When: Saturday, January 6, 2024 — 3:33 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Game Promotion: Trojan Warrior Club Appreciation
Not Slowing Down
Troy continues to impress over the last few weeks, as it has won three consecutive games by a combined 27 points.
On Thursday night, freshman forward Thomas Dowd and junior JUCO transfer Tayton Conerway sparked the Trojans' offense with a combined 26 points off the bench.
Dowd recorded a career-high 11 rebounds en route to his first career double-double (11 points). It marked the first double-double by a Trojan since Nelson Phillips recorded one against Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Tournament on March 2, 2023. Dowd's 11 rebounds are also the most by a Trojan this season and the first time a Troy player has recorded double-figure rebounds.
Conerway led the offense with a team-high 15 points, which ties his career-high. The junior guard was efficient from the field, going 5-6 and 2-2 from 3-point range.
Myles Rigsby and Jackson Fields each contributed 13 points. Rigsby has scored in double figures in three straight games, and 13 points ties Fields' career-best.
Troy's 55 points in the first half was the third most points scored in a half this season by Troy. It scored 62 in the second half against SUNO and 58 in the first half against Reinhardt.
Owning the Paint
For the 11th time in 14 games, Troy won the rebounding battle. The Trojans outrebounded the Monarchs 46-35 and had 16 offensive rebounds — a category in which Troy is the ninth-ranked team in the nation.
Troy also outscored Old Dominion in the paint 32-24. Fields tied his career-high in blocks with three. The Trojans finished the night with seven blocks and were only blocked twice.
Scouting App State
The Mountaineers lead the all-time series 12-9. Troy, however, has had more recent success. In the last seven games, Troy is 5-2. App State won the last matchup 58-45 on Jan. 14, 2023, in Boone, N.C.
App State, picked to finish second in the Preseason Coaches Poll, is off and rolling early in the season. They picked up a big home win over Auburn earlier in the season. They are led offensively by Donovan Gregory and his 14.1 points per game. Gregory was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.
Conference Play Notables
• Troy is forcing 15.78 turnovers per game, which is second in the Sun Belt and 34th in the country. The Trojans are also averaging 9.6 steals per game, 21st in the country and first in the Sun Belt. The Trojans had 11 steals on Thursday night.
• Troy has taken more free throw attempts than any team in the conference this season, averaging 23.4 attempts per game. Troy has also made the most free throws per game in the SBC at 17.1.
• Troy's bench scored 37 points on Thursday. On the season they are averaging 33.8 points per game, which is 12th nationally and tops in the conference.
• Troy is ninth in the country in offensive rebounds per game at 14.9.
• Troy has 45 combined starts by players who had not started a D-I game prior to this season.
