Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Georgia State
Men’s Basketball Battles Georgia State on Saturday Afternoon
2/2/2024 1:46:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. — After picking up a big road win on Thursday night at Georgia Southern, the Troy men's basketball team looks to extend its win streak to four games as they take on Georgia State in Atlanta on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT at the GSU Convocation Center.
Troy (14-8, 8-2 SBC) is off to its best conference start through ten games since the 2003-04 season when the Trojans finished 18-2 in conference play.
Christyon Eugene fueled the Trojan offense on Thursday night, as he set a new career-high with 28 points. His previous high of 26 was set in Troy's loss to James Madison in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament on March 4, 2023. It's the most points scored by a Trojan since Kam Woods scored 28 at Coastal Carolina on Jan. 23, 2021.
Georgia State (9-12, 4-6 SBC) is coming off a 10-point loss to App State on Thursday night in Atlanta. The Panthers started 4-1 in conference play but have lost their last five games. They are 6-2 when playing at home this season.
Troy leads the all-time series 28-24 and has won the last two matchups. The Trojans last played the Panthers on Jan. 12, 2023, in Atlanta and picked up a 65-53 win.
Game Information
The Matchup: Troy (14-8, 8-2 SBC) at Georgia State (9-12, 4-6 SBC)
Location: Atlanta, Ga. – GSU Convocation Center (7,300)
When: Saturday, Feb. 3 – 3 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Streaking
For the second time during conference play, Troy has won three or more consecutive games. The Trojans, who extended its current win streak to three after its win Thursday night, opened conference play with five straight wins.
On Thursday, it wasn't just Eugene who performed well. Myles Rigsby had his third consecutive game in double-figures after scoring 13 points. Tayton Conerway added 12 points and Aamer Muhammad had 10 points.
The Trojans shot 52 percent from 3-point range and it's the first time they've shot 50 percent or better from three since they defeated SIUE on Dec. 1.
The Troy defense also came to play, as it forced Georgia Southern into 16 turnovers. Troy is averaging 15.5 turnovers forced, which is 23rd in the country and third in the conference.
Of those 16 turnovers forced, eight came off steals. The Trojans are averaging ten steals a game, which is first in the SBC and ninth nationally. Conerway is second in the conference and 91st in the country in total steals with 37.
With the strong play this conference season, the Trojans continue to surge in national rankings. In the NET Rankings, Troy is up to 143 – fourth in the conference. In the KenPom Rankings, Troy is 138, also fourth in the conference.
Scouting Georgia State
The Panthers have been led this season by Lucas Taylor and his 14.4 points per game. Four Georgia State players are averaging double-figure points this season. Jay'Den Turner is nearly averaging a double-double with 10 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Georgia State's last win came at home against Georgia Southern on Jan. 13.
Conference Notable and Tid-Bits
• Head coach Scott Cross is one win shy of 300 career wins. Seventy-four of those wins have come while leading the Trojans. At UT-Arlington, Cross was 225-161.
• Depth has been a big reason for Troy's success this season, as they average a conference-best 31.4 bench points per game. That number is also good for 12th nationally.
• Troy's 21-point win on Wednesday is the second-largest margin of victory against a conference opponent this season. Troy beat Southern Miss by 26 on Jan. 13.
• Troy is 32nd nationally in rebounds per game with 39.95. The Trojans are averaging 14.0 offensive rebounds per game, which is first in the Sun Belt and 10th nationally.
• Sophomore Jackson Fields has started all 22 games at center. He is the only Trojan to have started every game this season. Jackson appeared in all 33 games last season coming off the bench.
• Troy has 70 combined starts by players who had not started a D-I game prior to this season.
