TROY, Ala. – Charles Manning Jr. and Jay Jay Chandler both finished with 20 points but the University of South Alabama men's basketball team lost at Troy 77-68 on Saturday night at the Trojan Arena.
Javon Franklin posted 13 points and 11 rebounds to record his sixth double-double of the season to lead the Jag offense.
Troy's Duke Miles scored a game-high 22 points, Zay Williams added 13, Efe Odigie finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Kieffer Punter chipped in 12 points to power the Trojan attack.
Date: 1/29
Place: Trojan Arena
Final Score: South Alabama 68, Troy 77
Records: South Alabama 15-6 (5-3), Troy 14-7 (5-3)
GAME FACTS
- Troy jumped out to an early 8-4 lead, over the first six minutes of play.
- USA answered with an 8-0 run to grab a 12-8 lead, sparked by a Kayo Goncalves three-pointer and four points from Manning Jr.
- Miles connected on a pair of three-pointers and Nate Tshimanga hit a layup to put the Trojans back in front, 20-13, with 5:53 to go in the half.
- The Jags went on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to three, 22-19, with just over four minutes left.
- Troy outscored South 9-3 over the final four minutes to take a 31-22 lead into the break.
- Desmond Williams and Punter knocked down two three-pointers to extend the Trojan lead to double-figures, 40-27.
- USA responded with a 9-4 run to cut the lead to eight, 44-36, with just over 11 minutes to go in the contest.
- The Trojans scored the next 11 points to push the lead to 19, 55-36, with 7:33 left on the clock.
- The Jaguars went on a 15-4 run to cut the deficit to single-digits, 65-56, sparked by seven points from Chandler, with just over three minutes to go.
- Troy went 12-of-15 from the free throw line over the final three minutes to hold on for the 77-68 victory.
NOTES
- USA falls to 28-12 all-time against Troy.
- South went 22-for-32 from the free throw line, the 22 made free throws were a season-best.
- Chandler has scored 20 or more points in eight games this season and has now scored at least 10 points in 19 straight games.
- Goncalves has hit at least one three-pointer in nine straight contests and 20 of 21 games this season.
- Manning Jr. has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season.
- Chandler and Manning Jr. both posted 20 points, marking the fourth instance this year two players have scored 20 or more in the same game.
- Franklin has posted four double-doubles in Sun Belt play.
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- On the outcome of the game:
"We didn't play well all the way around. We got off to a rough start and missed some free throws early. We just got punished on the glass. We couldn't get transition points because we couldn't get a rebound. A lot of them were 50-50 balls. You have to come up with those balls in any game, especially in a game like this. This is the first time we have lost to Troy since I've been here. It's just really, really disappointing in the way that we played. We didn't deserve to win and I give them a lot of credit. Troy's environment tonight was unbelievable and gave them a ton of energy. They came back from Thursday and came in here and beat us. So, I give them a ton of credit."
UP NEXT
- USA will go on the road to take on Georgia Southern on Thursday at 6 p.m. (CST).
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
—USA—
